HC Deb 15 June 1995 vol 261 cc606-7W
Mr. Mullin

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will give the net value and percentage of the civil legal aid budget spent on(a) personal injury claims, (b) multi-party actions and (c) industrial injury claims for each year since 1991. [27988]

Mr. John M. Taylor

Information on the cost of multi-party actions is not recorded separately and is, therefore, not available. The net cost and proportion of civil legal spent on personal injury claims and accidents at work in respect of all cases closed in each year since 1990–91 was as follows:

1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94
£ million
All cases 143.5 198.3 273.5 363.8
All personal injury
cases 8.6 13.9 22.3 38.0
Accidents at work 2.9 3.9 5.4 6.6
Percentages
Percentage of personal injury/all 6 7 8 10
Percentage of accidents at work/all 2 2 2 2

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will refer legal aid claims for mucous membrane disease to the multi-party actions committee; and if he will make a statement. [27987]

Mr. John M. Taylor

It is the responsibility of Legal Aid Board to decide whether a case is suitable for referral to the board's multi-party actions committee. The board has decided that this case is not suitable.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he last met the Legal Aid Board to discuss multi-party action. [27989]

Mr. John M. Taylor

I am in frequent contact with the board about various matters, including multi-party actions.