§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each of the last 10 years the number of households eligible for legal aid in court proceedings and the percentage of those entitled who had to make a contribution to legal costs.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe information requested is not available.
§ Dr. Godman.To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by year for the last 10 years the number of individuals who have qualified for legal aid; and what percentage of the population this represents.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonInformation is not available in the form requested. Figures for the number of legal aid applications granted are set out below.
Year Total number of Legal Aid applications granted Total number of Legal Aid applications granted as a percentage of population 1981–82 186,603 3.6 1982–83 196,093 3.8 1983–84 211,437 4.1 1984–85 221,289 4.3 1985–86 239,985 4.7 1986–87 258,690 5.0 1987–88 306,276 6.0 1988–89 290,053 5.7 1989–90 300,422 5.9 1990–91 1— 1— 1 At present these figures are not available.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by year for the past 10 years the number of people entitled to free legal advice.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe information requested is not available.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on access to free legal services.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonLegal services paid for under legal aid schemes are available free of charge to all those who satisfy the relevant merits tests and whose means are such that they are not required to make a financial contribution towards their legal costs.