§ Mr. Rymanasked the Attorney-General what was the cost to public funds of the provision of legal aid in all civil and criminal cases during the last three financial years; and how much was recovered during this period from applicants for legal aid in civil cases, as a condition of the grant of the legal aid certificate, and in criminal cases, upon conviction or acquittal.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe figures for expenditure on criminal and civil legal aid for the last three financial years are as follows:
1972–73 … … … £26,310,274 1973–74 … … … £31,595,111 1974–75 … … … £43,616,000* These figures do not include payments to local authorities in respect of expenditure incurred prior to the coming into force of the Courts Act in 1972.
The amounts recovered during this period from applicants for legal aid in civil cases, as a condition of the grant of the legal aid certificate and in criminal cases, upon conviction or acquittal, were as follows:
1972–73 … … … £3,000,824 1973–74 … … … £3,300,092 1974–75 … … … £4,379,443* * The figures quoted for 1974–75 are unaudited and have yet to be finalised.