§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Attorney-General what sums have been paid out in legal aid for fees to(a) solicitors and (b) barristers in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe figures for payments out of the legal aid fund in each of the last three financial years to(a) solicitors and to (b) barristers are as follows:
(a) Financial year Fees Disbursements Total 1986–87 5,043,872 1,172,368 6,216,240 1987–88 15,914,822 1,275,835 7,540,659 1988–89 8,125,482 1,704,474 9,829,956 178W
(b) Financial year Total 1986–87 1,841,119 1987–88 11,666,831 1988–89 2,499,817
1 This figure is an estimated apportionment of legal aid fees paid to solicitors and barristers. Difficulties encountered during the initial stages of computerisation of the Legal Aid Department prevented barristers' fees and solicitors' fees in respect of Civil Legal Aid being accounted for separately.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Attorney-General what sums have been paid out in legal aid in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe total expenditure from public funds for legal aid in Northern Ireland for the last three years is as follows:
£ 1986–87 9,009,849 1987–88 10,000,384 1988–89 13,080,815
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Attorney-General whether he has taken any steps to determine the perceived religion of those persons who have received legal aid in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.
§ The Attorney-GeneralPersons who receive civil legal aid do so on the grounds of financial eligibility and where applicable, on grounds that their involvement in the proceedings is reasonable, as is their receipt of legal aid in the particular circumstances of the case. Persons who receive criminal legal aid do so at the discretion of the court, it being satisfied that granting a certificate is desirable in the interests of justice and is necessary to assist the defendant in meeting the costs of the case.
A person's perceived religion does not have any bearing upon the decision-making process, and no steps have been taken to determine the perceived religion of recipients of legal aid in Northern Ireland.