§ Mr. LawrenceTo ask the Attorney-General what he estimates is likely to be the cost to the legal aid fund of providing financial assistance for solicitors and counsel for those of the 50,000 annual asylum seekers who may be refused asylum and wish to appeal.
§ The Attorney-GeneralFull legal aid for representation is not available for asylum appeals. Current average figures for the cost of advice and assistance are available only for all immigration, asylum and nationality matters and the costs of asylum cannot be separated out. Using current average figures the probable cost of advice and assistance in 50,000 asylum cases would be in the region of £9 million.