HC Deb 15 November 1988 vol 140 cc585-6W
Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in theOfficial Report for each mountain rescue team in Scotland the current levels of life assurance cover pertaining where fatality of a member or associate member occurs on a rescue or training exercise; and if he will make a statement on what proposals there are to ensure that a uniform specified sum, reviewed annually to take account of inflation, will be applicable to all such fatalities.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

It is for each police authority to determine the level of insurance cover to be provided for civilian members of mountain rescue teams in its area. However, to help achieve a measure of uniformity, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland) carries out an annual review of levels of cover and makes

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in theOfficial Report for each of the last 10 years how many persons have received (a) advice and assistance under the civil advice and assistance scheme, (b) advice and assistance under the criminal legal aid scheme, (c) legal aid under the section 1 legal aid scheme, (d) legal aid under the criminal legal aid scheme, (e) legal aid under the ABWOR scheme, and (f) legal aid under any other legal aid schemes; and if he will state the total costs of legal aid in each of the last 10 years, with the totals shown broken down as between the foregoing categories.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Advice and assistance on criminal matters is and has been given under the legal advice and assistance scheme rather than the criminal legal aid scheme. Assistance by way of representation did not commence until 1987–88. The information is as follows:

recommendations on any increases considered desirable in the light of inflation. The current recommended level of cover in consequence of a fatality is £65,375 and I understand that this figure has been adopted in all Scottish police force areas except that of the Northern constabulary where the sum is £100,000.