§ 65. Mr. AllenTo ask the Attorney-General how many people received legal aid(a) in 1979 and (b) in 1989; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe information at present available is as follows: 190,677 civil legal aid certificates (including those relating to summary jurisdiction) were issued in 1979–80. A total of 247,117 civil legal aid certificates were issued in 1988–89.
In 1980–81 assistance by way of representation substantially replaced summary jurisdiction certificates. In 1988–89, 69,503 ABWOR applications were granted.
In 1979 387,581 applications for criminal legal aid were granted (excluding the House of Lords). In 1988, the comparable figure was 616,366.
26W
§ 66. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Attorney-General what is(a) the highest and (b) the lowest sum paid to an individual receiving legal aid in the past year; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralLegal aid is paid to lawyers rather than their clients. The highest sums paid in respect of a single defendant in a criminal case in the Crown court during the last 12 months were £82,897.72 for a solicitor and £47,788.25 for counsel. Similar figures for civil legal aid and magistrates courts proceedings are not kept in the form requested.