§ Mr. Robert BanksTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the amount of legal aid paid out in North Yorkshire for each of the last four years; and if he will give the number of cases supported in each of those years.
Mr. John M. TaylorI refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for York (Mr. Bayley), on 20 January, at columns261–62. North Yorkshire is covered by two Legal Aid Board area offices at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and at Leeds. It is not possible to distinguish between assisted persons residing in North Yorkshire and other areas served by those offices.
§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has received for cost penalties to be imposed on legal aid matrimonial litigants when their non-co-operation has led to delays occasioning increased costs; and what estimate he has made of the savings that might thereby be achieved.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Law Society has made such a proposal, which it acknowledges needs further thought. Estimates of the likely financial effect will be produced in due course.
§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has received to limit the availability of legal aid for the costs of(a) counsel being attended by a solicitors' representative and (b) two counsel when a QC is assigned; and what estimate he has made of the savings that might thereby be achieved.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Law Society has made such proposals, though they have been under consideration in the efficiency commission for some time and it has hitherto been difficult to secure any restraint on costs as a result. The Lord Chancellor will be considering how best to take these proposals forward. Estimates of the likely financial effect will be produced in the course of that consideration.