§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for (a) criminal legal aid and (b) civil legal aid have been made in Scotland in each of the last five years for which records are available; and what percentage of applications in each category were granted in each year.
§ Mr. RifkindDetails for the year to 31 March 1985 are not yet available. The information for the five preceding years is as follows:
(a) Criminal legal aid Total applications received Percentage granted 1979–80 43,077 86 1980–81 50,706 88 1981–82 58,392 90 1982–83 61,374 90 1983–84 68,402 90
(b) Civil legal aid Total applications received Full certificates issued 1979–80 29,012 16,782 1980–81 32,843 17,621 1981–82 35,292 22,190 1982–83 31,006 19,475 1983–84 31,126 18,353 In the case of civil legal aid the figures are not given as a percentage since the applications include applications for emergency certificates, some applications are pending at the end of year, and not all approvals result in the issue of a certificate.
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total cost of legal aid in (a) criminal and (b) civil cases in each of the last five years for which records are available; and what was the average cost per individual case in each category.
§ Mr. RifkindDetails for the last year to 31 March 1985 are not yet available. The information for the five preceding years is as follows:
Total cost Average cost per case £000 £ (a) Criminal legal aid 1979–80 5,741 123 1980–81 8,549 166 1981–82 11,650 194 1982–83 16,834 241 1983–84 18,015 264 (b) Civil legal aid 1979–80 3,954 298 1980–81 6,487 384 1981–82 8,788 471 1982–83 12,035 589 1983–84 13,445 615