§ Mr. Arthur Davidsonasked the Attorney-General when the Lord Chancellor is expected to publish the legal aid annual report for 1981–82; why it has not yet been published; and if he will seek to ensure that the 1982–83 report is published before the end of 1983.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe 32nd report—1981 82—comprising the Law Society's report on its administration of legal aid and the comments thereon of the legal aid advisory committee, is being printed and publication is expected on 22 February. This date is comparable with that in previous years.
It would be difficult to ensure that the reports are published much earlier. The Law Society's report is prepared following the close of the financial year to which, together with the statistics and the accounts which it contains, it relates, and the legal aid advisory committee needs to consider the final version of the Law Society's report before completing its own.
However, the Lord Chancellor will draw the hon. Member's question to the attention of the Law Society and the legal aid advisory committee.