HC Deb 22 May 1991 vol 191 c490W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Attorney-General 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.

The Attorney-General

Calculations are not made as a matter of course of the number of individuals falling within the eligibility limits for legal aid. It is estimated that in 1990 approximately 36 million people or 66 per cent. of the population were eligible on income grounds for non-matrimonial civil legal aid. For personal injury claims it is estimated that 38 million people or 69 per cent. of the population were eligible. No estimates are available of the percentage of the population eligible for matrimonial or criminal legal aid. The numbers of individuals obtaining legal aid are detailed in tables published in legal aid annual reports to 1988–89 the Legal Aid Board annual report for 1989–90 and "Judicial Statistics".

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list by year for 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 the costs.

The Attorney-General

Calculations are not made as a matter of course of the number of households falling within the eligibility limits for legal aid. In 1990 it is estimated that 18.5 million households were eligible on income grounds for civil non-matrimonial legal aid—19.5 million in personal injury cases. About 60 per cent. are estimated to have been eligible with a contribution.