§ Rev. Martin Smythasked the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Belfast, South on 11 July about legal aid certificates, what was the cost to public funds of the certificates issued in the five-year period 1980 to 1985 in cases alleging medical negligence.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe information requested by the hon. Gentleman is not readily available because the cases involved may not be concluded for a number of years. However, the cost to the legal aid fund of cases alleging medical negligence which were concluded, reported and paid in the past five years is as follows:
Total cases concluded Cost to Legal Aid Fund 1980–81 20 13,189.70 1981–82 22 4,870.33 1982–83 26 30,781.71 1983–84 34 30,200.85 1984–85 46 32,432.59
§ Rev. Martin Smythasked the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Belfast, South on 11 July about legal aid certificates, in how many cases in which the outcome was a withdrawal the judge asked for or directed that the case should be withdrawn.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe statistics requested by the hon. Gentleman are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.