§ Mr. Vazasked the Attorney-General if he will list the number of law centres currently in existence; how many are in receipt of central Government funds; how many are known to have closed since 1970 due to lack of funds; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThere is no central Government register of law centres, nor is information held centrally on how many have closed since 1970 due to lack of funds. However, there are 57 members of the Law Centres Federation (this includes Small Heath community law
Amounts paid to solicitors under the criminal and civil legal aid schemes Year Criminal Civil Criminal-magistrates courts1 Green Form (criminal) Court and 24 hour duty solicitor schemes2 Criminal legal aid in the higher courts Green Form (civil) ABWOR3 Summary jurisdiction Civil legal aid £ million £ million £ million 1977–78 21.3 424.3 37.1 1978–79 25.9 426.4 43.1 1979–80 31.4 431.5 48.1 1980–81 41.1 443.0 65.9 1981–82 48.6 448.2 87.9 1982–83 57.6 45l.6 110.9 1983–84 64.6 458.3 132.9 1984–85 73.1 533.7 159.3 1985–86 89.9 536.4 181.1 1986–87 109.6 542.6 197.2 1 Amounts paid lo solicitors for criminal legal aid in magistrates courts include counsels' fees where counsel are not separately assigned. 2 Court duty solicitor scheme from 1984–85 onwards and 24-hour duty solicitor scheme from 1985–86 onwards. 3 ABWOR from 1980–81 onwards. 4 Solicitors and counsel. 5 Solicitors only.