§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what research he has undertaken in the last three years on public defender systems. [5198]
§ Mr. StreeterNo new research on public defender systems, whereby salaried staff provide legal services in criminal cases, has been commissioned by this Department in the last three years. Officials from this Department recently made a fact finding visit to north America to see how both criminal and civil legal aid are delivered in the USA and Canada. Among other services, they saw public defender systems in action and spoke to those responsible for running them.