§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the savings in the financial year 1993–94 which will result from the changes he has announced in financial elegibility for civil legal aid.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe purpose of the proposed changes announced on 16 November is to ensure 513W the continuation of reasonable access to legal aid for the most needy, while at the same time taking action to control the rate of growth in legal aid expenditure. The proposed changes are expected to reduce forecast expenditure on civil legal aid by between £2 million and £3 million in 1993–94. Expenditure on civil legal aid is, however, expected to continue to increase.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of people who were granted civil legal aid in 1992–93 who would not have been granted legal aid if the changes in financial eligibility being introduced from 1 April 1993 had been in force in 1992–93
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe proposed changes would not have affected the number of those eligible for civil legal aid. However, some people who did not pay a contribution would have been required to do so and those who did would have had to pay an increased contribution.