§ Mr. Jesselasked the Attorney-General if he will set out in the Official Report the annual cost of legal aid in each of the last 10 years in money terms and in real terms; and if he will make a statement in explanation of the principal factors causing any change, including, if available comparative costs of such main factors.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe cost of legal aid, including administration, to the Exchequer in each of the last 10 years was as follows:
£ million Cash Constant 1973–74 prices 1973–74 31 31 1974–75 43 37 1975–76 59 41 1976–77 69 41 1977–78 82 42 1978–79 93 44 1979–80 110 47 1980–81 152 54 1981–82 184 58 1982–83 230 66 The increase in real terms has averaged some 8 per cent. per annum. Over the decade three of the principal contributors to the increase have been the growth in crime and divorce, and the steadily increasing use by the public of the legal advice and assistance scheme introduced in 1973.
The higher than average increases in 1974–75 and 1980–81 were partly attributable in changes in the financial conditions of eligibility for legal aid. It is not possible realistically to quantify separately the effects of these and numerous other contributory factors.