§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) single people and (b) married couples refused an offer of contributory legal aid in each of the last five years. [35625]
Mr. John M. TaylorThe number of contributory civil legal aid offers made but not accepted in each of the last five years for which information is available are shown in the table. This information can not be broken down according to marital status.
Year Contributory legal aid offers made but not taken up 1990–91 16,164 1991–92 19,179 1992–93 n/a 1993–94 26,399 1994–95 n/a n/a—not available.
§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the level of weekly disposable income below which(a) free legal aid and (b) contributory legal aid was available in (i) 1979, (ii) 1993, (iii) 1994 and (iv) 1995; what was the percentage of the adult population eligible for (a) and (b) in each of those years; and what is the present day value in real terms of these disposable income levels. [85545]
1298W
Mr. John. M. TaylorThe information requested is not readily available. I will reply as soon as possible and will also write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) single people and (b) married couples have been eligible for (i) free legal aid and (ii) contributory legal aid for each of the last five years; and what percentage of the adult population these figures represent for each of these years. [35543]
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Lord Chancellor's Department does not make separate estimates of the financial eligibility of single and married people.
§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the value of the savings to the legal aid fund of the 1993 abolition of the contributory element of green form advice in the financial years 1993–94 and 1994–95. [35544]
Mr. John M. TaylorIt is difficult to identify separately the effects of each element in the package of changes made in April 1993. However, it is estimated that the abolition of contributory green form advice and assistance resulted in savings of about £4 million in 1993–94 and £9 million in 1994–95.
§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the difference in the level of disposable income above which(a) free legal aid and (b) contributory legal aid was not available before and after the 1993 changes in financial eligibility. [35546]
Mr. John M. TaylorThe information requested is set out in the table.
Free limit Upper limit April 1992 Civil £3,060 per annum £6,800 per annum Civil (personal injury) £3,060 per annum £7,500 per annum Criminal £65 per week no upper limit April 1993 Civil £2,294 per annum £6,800 Civil (personal injury) £2,294 per annum £7,500 Criminal £45 per week no upper limit