§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance is available to criminal legal aid; and whether the same guidance is followed by the area offices of the Legal Aid Board when dealing with cases coming to them on review from refusals by the courts.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Justices Clerks Society issued guidance to its members in 1990 and 1991. The Lord Chancellor's Department issued a circular in April 1992 which included advice and guidance for use when considering applications for criminal legal aid. The Legal Aid Board is aware of the guidance which has been made available. However, it remains for the court, or the legal aid area committee in the case of a review, to decide whether legal aid should be granted in any particular case in accordance with the criteria set down in the Legal Aid Act 1988.