§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent discussions he has had with trades unions regarding legal aid. [37653]
§ Mr. HoonI met representatives of the trades unions and the TUC on 9 December last year, and 27 January and 24 February this year to discuss a number of matters including our proposals for legal aid reform. As I told my hon. Friend in an oral answer on 4 March 1998,Official Report, column 1067, we discussed with the trades unions their excellent schemes, which provide legal advice and representation to trade union members. We also discussed the possibility of opening up these arrangements to a wider category of people.