§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Attorney-General how many persons appearing before tribunals in the last year for which figures are available have received legal advice and assistance by means of the Green Form Scheme.
§ The Attorney-GeneralExact figures are not available. A 10 per cent. sample carried out by the Law Society in 1974–75 showed that 1.3 per cent. of the claims for payment under the scheme related to tribunal work, suggesting an overall total of about 2,500 persons. These figures do not, however, include all tribunal cases, because some were listed under separate subject headings in the sample claims.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Attorney-General if he will take steps to publicise widely the availability of legal advice and assistance in preparing a case before a tribunal by means of the Green Form Scheme.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe fact that advice and assistance are available for tribunal cases is already widely publicised as one of the benefits of the Green Form Scheme. But my noble Friend is considering whether further steps would be desirable.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Attorney-General what is the Green Form Scheme; and what are the financial limits of eligibility.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThis is the legal advice and assistance scheme which is provided under Sections 1 to 5 of the Legal Aid Act 1974. Under it a person of limited means may obtain from a solicitor and, if necessary, from counsel,10W advice and assistance on matters involving English law, at little or no cost to himself. It is available for criminal and civil matters, including tribunal problems. If more than £25 worth of advice and assistance is to be given, authority must be obtained from the Law Society. Advice and assistance under the scheme are available to any person whose disposable income does not exceed £30 a week. A contribution is payable, on a sliding scale, by any person whose disposable income exceeds £16 a week.