§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether that part of the L code which deals with section 22 of the Legal Aid Act is currently being rewritten; and who is being consulted about it.
§ Mr. NewtonThe rewriting of that part of the L code which deals with section 22 of the Legal Aid Act 1974 has not yet commenced. The L code consists of departmental technical and management instructions for which external consultation is not appropriate.
§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now revoke that part of the L code that deals with section 22 of the Legal Aid Act.
§ Mr. NewtonThe reference to section 22 of the Legal Aid Act 1974 in the L code will be considered when the relevant part of the code is rewritten. Meanwhile, the authority for legal and assessment officers to pass information to other officers for purposes not specified in section 22(1) of the Legal Aid Act 1974 remains suspended.