HC Deb 07 December 1989 vol 163 cc315-6W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Attorney-General how much public money has been expended under the green form scheme(a) by area and (b) under subject headings; and how many people have been assisted for each year since its inception.

The Attorney-General

Since the start of the green form scheme in 1972 the legal aid annual reports have included these statistics. The reports are laid before Parliament each year and are available in the Library.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Attorney-General how much public money has been expended by the legal aid fund for

1985 £ 1986 £ 1987 £ 1988 £
Solicitors 33,722,547.76 36,360,110.42 42,601,012.57 47,591,306.36
Barristers 34,316,242.71 38,931,994.65 49,225,506.01 52,494,458.56
Total 68,038,790.47 75,292,105.07 91,826,518.58 100,085,764.92

No separate information on disbursements for criminal legal aid in higher courts is held at national level. Any other information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

each year since its inception; and how many persons have benefited from the assistance of the legal aid fund for each year for (a) criminal legal aid and (b) civil legal aid.

The Attorney-General

All information available since the start of the scheme in 1949 is contained either in the legal aid annual report or in the judicial statistics of the Lord Chancellor's Department which are laid before Parliament and are available in the Library. Any other information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.