HC Deb 11 March 1993 vol 220 cc717-8W
Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his current estimate of the proportion of the adult population of Scotland which after I April will be eligible for(a) legal advice and assistance and (b) legal aid, for civil purposes on a nil contribution; what is his current estimate of the proportion of the adult population of Scotland which after 1 April will be eligible for (i) legal advice and assistance and (ii) legal aid for civil purposes irrespective of the level of contribution; what is the current proportion of the adult population of Scotland currently eligible for (1) legal advice and assistance and (2) legal aid for civil purposes on a nil contribution; and what current proportion of the adult population of Scotland is eligible for (y) legal advice and assistance and (z) legal aid, for civil purposes irrespective of the level of contribution.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 10 March 1993]: Given the variations over time in individuals' circumstances it is not possible to estimate with any precision the proportion of the adult population eligible for legal aid.

Further analyses of data from the family expenditure survey have been undertaken since my reply of 20 January, Official Report, column 228, to the hon. and learned Member. These suggest that in Scotland the percentage of households which would be eligible for civil legal aid under the new proposed changes to eligibility criteria, as announced in my reply of 17 February, Official Report, column 226, to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Robertson), would be in the range of 50 to 60 per cent., with between 15 to 25 per cent. free of contributions. A similar number would be eligible for advice and assistance, with between 25 to 30 per cent. free of contributions. This represents no substantive change in the total numbers eligible, but a drop of between 5 and 10 per cent. of households currently eligible for free civil legal aid or advice and assistance.