HL Deb 28 January 1998 vol 585 cc54-5WA
Lord Simon of Glaisdale

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the last year for which statistics of Legal Aid are available:

  1. (a) how many certificates were issued respectively to plaintiffs and defendants;
  2. (b) how many of those issued to defendants were to those claiming a set-off or counterclaim;
  3. (c) how many and what proportion of those issued respectively to (1) plaintiffs and (2) defendants claiming a set-off or counterclaim were:
  1. (i) in respect of a claim for damages;
  2. (ii) in respect of a claim to recover money;
  3. (iii) in respect of a claim to recover or preserve property. [HL 149]

The Lord Chancellor, (Lord Irvine of Lairg)

In 1996–97, the last year for which figures are available, the number of certificates issued to plaintiffs and defendants for non-matrimonial civil legal aid was as follows:

Plaintiffs 144,096
Defendants 18,631

Of these, it is estimated that 2,981 certificates (16 per cent.) issued to defendants for non-matrimonial civil legal aid covered counterclaims.

Information on the proportion of certificates issued to plaintiffs and defendants claiming a set-off or counterclaim is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.