HC Deb 22 May 1991 vol 191 cc490-1W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement in respect of access to free legal services.

The Attorney-General

Those legal services, that are paid for under the legal aid schemes are available free of charge to all those who satisfy the relevant merits test and whose means are such that they are not required to make a financial contribution towards their legal costs. Free legal advice and assistance is also available irrespective of means through the duty solicitor schemes at magistrates' courts and police stations.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list by year for the last 10 years the number of people entitled to free legal advice.

The Attorney-General

Calculations are not made as a matter of course of the numbers of individuals falling within the eligibility limits for free legal advice and assistance. In 1989–90, nil contributions were assessed in 917,882 of the 1,029,018 bills paid for legal advice and assistance. Figures for earlier years are contained in the legal aid annual reports.