HC Deb 29 February 1996 vol 272 c658W
Mr. Bermingham

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the number of franchised firms in each legal aid area at(a) 1 August 1994, (b) at 1 June 1995 and (c) 1 December 1995. [18209]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

Franchises are awarded to suppliers' offices rather than firms. The number of franchised offices in each legal aid area as at the dates requested was as follows:

Legal aid area 1 August 1994 1 June 1995 1 December 1996
London 108 117 126
Brighton 53 92 94
Reading 115 141 148
Bristol 93 122 128
Cardiff 46 41 44
Birmingham 27 32 32
Manchester 70 73 91
Newcastle 36 45 44
Leeds 66 70 79
Nottingham 87 102 115
Cambridge 108 124 132
Chester 37 42 49
Liverpool 40 44 58

Mr. Bermingham

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the number of sole practitioner firms holding a franchise at 1 November 1995 in each of the legal aid areas. [18210]

Mr. Evans

Information on the number of sole practitioner firms holding a franchise is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.