§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is kept by his Department as to the number of legal aid contribution orders made by each individual criminal court, and the number of down payments ordered by each court; and whether he will publish the information.
§ Mr. WhitelawMy Department receives from each petty sessional division and each crown court centre the numbers of legal aid contribution orders made, but no information is collected centrally on the number of down payments ordered. Numbers of contribution orders for each petty sessional division and crown court centre could be published in theOfficial Report only at disproportionate cost, but if the hon. Member would like information on any particular petty sessional division or crown court centre, I shall be pleased to provide it. I shall also consider publication in future issues of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales".