§ Mr. McCuskerTo ask the Attorney-General how much has been paid each year in Northern Ireland during the past 10 years from the legal aid fund; and how many Queen's counsel, junior counsel and solicitors have received such payments in each year.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe figures for payments out of the legal aid fund for each of the financial years from 1978–79 to 1987–88 for each category of legal aid are as follows:
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Legal advice and assistance Total £ 1978–79 30,640 1979–80 96,249 1980–81 170,097 1981–82 214,980 1982–83 312,025 1983–84 384,548 1984–85 477,251 1985–86 732,313 1986–87 806,432 1987–88 1,212,649 TOTAL 4,443,184
Assistance by way of representation Solicitors' fees £ Counsels' Fees £ Total £ 1980–811 12,683 2,690 15,373 1981–1982 177,694 37,692 215,386 1982–1983 334,772 70,829 405,601 1983–1984 408,666 89,921 498,587 1984–1985 350,593 82,961 433,554 1985–1986 525,998 119,056 645,054 1986–1987 755,986 162,634 918,620 1987–1988 757,215 161,247 918,462 Totals 3,323,607 727,030 4,050,637 1 This scheme commenced in November 1980. Total expenditure over the period = £49,788,814.
Information on the number of Queen's counsel, junior counsel an solicitors who have received payments in each of the years is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.