§ Ms Janet AndersonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of the total legal aid budget is accounted for by the cost of compulsory attendance and cover to police stations by solicitors 365 days per year.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe total cost of the duty solicitor police station scheme in 1991–92, which provides for an728W initial telephone service as well as attendance at police stations, was £53.6 million. This accounted for 5.9 per cent. of the total net expenditure on legal aid. Information on the detailed breakdown of the overall figure is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.