HC Deb 15 November 1988 vol 140 c587W
Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what record is kept of the time period which elapses between the date of arrival at the offices of the Scottish Legal Aid Board of applications submitted by solicitors for section 1 legal aid applications, and the date of acknowledgement of such applications by the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

No such record is kept. Generally applications are acknowledged by the board within two days of receipt.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which forms used in the processes of application and submission of accounts in all legal aid schemes both civil and criminal by solicitors and the Scottish Legal Aid Board have required to be replaced following the establishment of the Scottish Legal Aid Board; what additional costs have been incurred with regard to the framing and printing of the new forms; and what costs have been incurred as a result of the amendment of forms following the establishment of SLAB.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

All the forms used under the previous legal aid arrangements have now been replaced to provide for references to the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986, and to the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The additional costs are not separately recorded.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will ask the Scottish Legal Aid Board to review its current practice of refusing to divulge its fax number to solicitors.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

No. The Scottish Legal Aid Board is an independent statutory body responsible for the day-to-day administration of legal aid in Scotland and such an operational matter is for its decision.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will discuss with the Scottish Legal Aid Board the possible review of the requirement in section 1 legal aid applications in cases where the applicant has, prior to provision of corroboration, already obtained a court decree since court proceedings have been raised as a matter of special urgency.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Yes.