§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many representations(a) his Department and (b) the legal aid service has received in each of the last five years alleging that legal aid was being received by litigants or contestants of cases who were not qualified to receive it; and if he will make a statement on the measures his Department takes to ensure that legal aid goes only to those who qualify. [15449]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansThe legal aid assessment office of the Benefits Agency assesses the means of applicants for civil legal aid. In November 1990, it set up a special team to investigate representations alleging abuse of the scheme. Since that date it has received the following representations.
Number November 1990-March 1991 754 April 1991-March 1992 2,775 April 1992-March 1993 5,394 April 1993-March 1994 8,783 April 1994-March 1995 11,402 April 1995-March 1996 115,000 1 Anticipated. A small number of these representations will originally have been channelled through my Department. All applications for civil legal aid are scrutinised carefully by the Legal Aid Board to ensure that the case has merit, and the legal aid assessment office to ensure that the applicant's means are within the prescribed limits. Allegations that legal aid is being received by those who do not qualify for it are investigated thoroughly.