§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Attorney-General (1) how many applications for civil legal aid certificates were(a) granted and (b) refused; and what percentage this was of the whole in 1987, 1988 and 1989;
(2) how many applications were received for civil legal aid certificates in 1987, 1988 and 1989
§ The Attorney-GeneralAll information about civil legal aid is contained in the legal aid annual reports which are laid before Parliament each year and are available in the Library. The most recent report provides information to 31 March 1989.
§ Mr.SheermanTo ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions have taken place in each of the last five years for fraudulent completion of legal aid certificate applications.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe legal aid board took over responsibility from the Law Society on 1 April 1989. Since that date there has been one prosecution for fraudulent completion of a legal aid certificate application, mounted by the legal aid board. There were no prosecutions in the preceding four years. The legal aid authorities do not maintain records of police prosecutions.
§ Mr.SheermanTo ask the Attorney-Genera l (1) how many complaints his Department has received regarding erroneous or fraudulent applications for assessments of grant for legal aid;
(2) how many revocations of civil legal aid certificates there were during (a) 1987, (b) 1988 and (c) 1989 as a result of reassessment following information or complaints received.
§ The Attorney-GeneralComplaints regarding erroneous or fraudulent applications for assessment of grant for legal aid are dealt with either by the legal aid board or by the legal aid assessment office, Department of Social Security, Preston. Any allegation will lead to a re-examination of the application. Statistics about complaints and any consequent revocations of civil legal aid certificates are not at present maintained, but the legal aid board is introducing new management information and computer systems.