§ Lord Coleraineasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in advance of the completion of the general review of all the financial conditions for the grant of civil legal aid, they will move towards a more even-handed treatment of wealth between those who do and do not own their own homes, by increasing the upper (eligibility) limits for disposable capital for tenant occupiers.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)The first phase of the review which is concerned with legal aid in non-matrimonial civil proceedings will examine all aspects of the financial conditions. It is expected that a working paper will be published in March 1991 to be followed by consultation. The Government do not propose to implement any changes before then.
§ Lord Coleraineasked Her Majesty's Government:
What would be the additional net annual cost to the Treasury if the upper (eligibility) limits for tenant occupiers (however defined) were to be increased from £6,000 and £8,000 to £20,000 and £22,000 respectively, and by how much would it be necessary to reduce the upper (eligibility) limits of owner occupiers in order that there should be no increase or decrease in the overall net annual cost of providing civil legal aid.
§ The Lord ChancellorAssessment of the costs involved is not practicable since reliable statistics on capital holdings by reference to household tenure are not available. The working group will be considering the treatment of the capital value of homes as part of the general review of financial conditions for legal aid.