§ Mr. Cordleasked the Attorney-General what proportion of married couples under 65 years of age are presently estimated to be eligible for legal aid; and what are the comparable figures for each of the last 15 years.
§ The Attorney-GeneralPrecise estimates are not available, but there is evidence that the proportion of married couples eligible for legal aid has declined substantially during the last 15 years. My noble Friend and his Advisory Committee on Legal Aid are aware of this trend and are considering what can be done to counteract it within the limits of available resources.
§ Mr. Cordleasked the Attorney-General (1) what proposals he has to raise the levels of disposable income and disposable capital at which a person (a) 398W begins to have to contribute towards the cost of legal aid granted to him and (b) ceases to be eligible for any legal aid;
(2) what proposals he has to introduce a scheme for the automatic revision of levels of disposable income and disposable capital at which a person (a) begins to have to contribute towards the cost of legal aid granted to him and (b) ceases to be eligible for any legal aid, so as to ensure the real value of these limits is not eroded by inflation.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI will answer these Questions together. My noble Friend proposes to continue his policy of reviewing income limits for legal aid annually to ensure that they do not compare unfavourably with the periodical increases in supplementary benefits. The limits were last raised at the beginning of this year, and my noble Friend is now considering what further increases may be appropriate following the increases in supplementary benefits which the Secretary of State for Social Services announced on 7th April 1976—[Vol. 909, c.425–40]—would be introduced next November. My noble Friend regrets that, in the current economic circumstances, it is not practicable to make any immediate increase in the capital limits.