§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Attorney-General how much expenditure was provided in legal aid in 1970, 1974 and the latest 729W year for which figures are available, for legal assistance in divorce cases; and how many people received legal aid for this purpose.
The Attorney-GeneralThe information requested is held by financial year and could not be provided by calendar year without disproportionate cost. Legal aid payments in matrimonial cases, including divorce, judicial separation, ancillary relief, maintenance and property, and custody and access matters, totalled £6.4 million in 1970–71, representing 51,097 bills; £13.1 million in 1974–75, representing 85,082 bills; and £23.9 million in 1977–78. the most recent year for which figures are available, representing 99,870 bills. Legal help for matrimonial matters was also available under the legal advice and assistance scheme, but it is not possible to identify for the years in question the costs attributable to legal assistance for particular purposes.
§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Attorney-General how much expenditure was provided in legal aid in 1970, 1974, and the latest year for which figures are available, for enforcement of court orders for maintenance payments to divorcees; and how many people received legal aid for this purpose.
§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Attorney-General how much expenditure was provided in legal aid in 1970, 1974, and the latest year for which figures are available, for variation orders for maintenance payments to divorcees; and how many people received legal aid for this purpose.