§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Attorney-General whether there is a shortage of solicitors prepared to take on legal aid work in any area of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Legal Aid Board, which administers the legal aid system in England and Wales, has received no representations from persons requiring the services of a solicitor who have been unable to obtain those services. The Scottish Legal Aid Board has also received no such representations. Similarly, the position in Northern Ireland is that no such representations have been received.
§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Attorney-General how many solicitors and companies of solicitors have withdrawn from the legal aid scheme over the past three years.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo statistics are available on the identities of solicitors or firms of solicitors undertaking legal aid work at any one time. The Legal Aid Board does, however, publish a figure showing the number of officies receiving payment. For the last three years follows:
Number 1987–88 11,617 1988–89 11,558 1989–90 11,455 The Legal Aid Board also publishes statistics which show that, despite this, over the past three years the number of legal aid payments made to solicitors has risen.
§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received concerning people wishing to obtain legal aid because they cannot afford the legal fees but who have been refused legal aid; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Lord Chancellor regularly receives representations regarding all aspects of the legal aid system. However, the grant of legal aid is a matter for the Legal Aid Board or the courts. The Lord Chancellor is conducting a review into the financial conditions for legal aid which will also consider how an applicant's means relate to the cost of proceedings.