§ Mrs. BallardTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the investigation by the Legal Aid Board's special investigations unit of the applications for legal aid made by a constituent of the hon. Member for Taunton, whose name has been supplied to him. [11615]
§ Mr. HoonI do not comment on, or intervene in, the award of legal aid in individual cases. I have, however, been advised by the Legal Aid Board that the investigation of the hon. Lady's constituent's means by the special investigations unit is still in progress.
§ Mrs. BallardTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures he is taking to prevent multiple applications to the Legal Aid Board through different regional offices to support unnecessary litigation. [11631]
§ Mr. HoonAll application forms for legal aid require the applicant to state if they have applied for legal aid before and, if so, to provide details. The declaration to be signed by the applicant makes clear the range of penalties available if the applicant knowingly gives false information or withholds relevant information.
The Legal Aid Board is introducing a new corporate information system which will give every legally assisted person a unique personal identifier. This will provide 424W board staff with the applicant's full legal aid history, preventing applications relating to the same case from being submitted to more than one regional office.