§ Mr. Nicholas Brownasked the Attorney-General if Her Majesty's Government will introduce legislation to amend the legal aid scheme to remove the right to legal aid of persons wishing to challenge in the courts their expulsion from a political party; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo. Before legal aid is granted in any case to which the scheme applies all applicants must. satisfy the Law Society, which is responsible for administering the civil legal aid scheme, that they have reasonable grounds for taking or defending the proceedings. There is thus no reason to discriminate against those who have been expelled from a political party and have a cause of action in the courts enjoying a reasonable prospect of success.
§ Mr. Nicholas Brownasked the Attorney-General if Her Majesty's Government will introduce legislation to extend the legal aid scheme to cover persons wishing to challenge in the European Court its refusal of membership by a political party in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo. The legal aid scherie in England and Wales is intended to enable persons of small or moderate means to take proceedings before the courts of England and Wales. I understand that both the Commission and the European Court of Human Rights operate legal aid schemes of their own. There is thus no reason to discriminate in favour of those persons who have had the misfortune to be refused membership of a political party.