§ Mr. LockTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much was paid out by the Legal Aid Board in respect of medical negligence legal actions brought against NHS trusts and health authorities in irrecoverable costs; and what was the total sum recovered in damages in such cases in the last three years. [10084]
§ Mr. HoonInformation in the form requested is not available because the Legal Aid Board's database does not record the name or status of the assisted party's opponent. However, the total paid out of the legal aid fund and recoveries in medical negligence cases in each of the last three years was as follows:
Gross payments £ Damages recovered £ Costs recovered/set off £ Net costs to fund £ 1994–95 38,563,724 41,411,411 13,341,879 23,920,296 1995–96 50,199,270 65,809,664 22,035,516 26,856,210 1996–97 54,331,152 74,186,110 25,846,020 27,207,573