§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Attorney-General how many applications for legal aid have been received from parents of brain-damaged children who wish to pursue a claim for medical negligence; and what percentage of the applications have been successful.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Legal Aid Board receives in the order of 400,000 applications each year. The board's case information system identifies only the broad category of "medical negligence" and does not identify particular types of damage within that category. Further, the system identifies applicants only as male or female, defendants or plaintiffs and not whether or not they are children or parents or next friends on behalf of children.
It would, therefore, not be practicable to extract the information requested.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Attorney-General if he is considering any further changes to the current tort-based system, particularly with reference to parents who wish to sue for compensation for their brain-damaged children.
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy noble and learned Friend is considering the feasibility of a no-fault compensation scheme, restricted to less serious road accidents and financed by private insurance. No other changes to the tort-based system are being considered.