Legal Aid (Hansard, 8 June 1998)

§ Miss McIntosh
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of legal aid cases are solely for parental access. [43888]

§ Mr. Hoon
The Legal Aid Board is unable to provide the information in the format requested. Legal aid cases relating solely to parental access are not separately recorded by the Board. Such cases could be covered by a certificate issued in response to applications for residence and contact orders; or by combined certificates including injunctions ancillary relief, residence and contact orders. Applications for residence and contact orders are not solely covered by civil legal aid. Work relating to such orders could also be included under Legal Advice and Assistance (Green Form Scheme) and ABWOR.
413W
The table sets out the figures available for certificates issued and ABWOR bills paid which related specifically to residence and contact orders, as reported in the Board's annual report (Tables Civil 6, Civil 6A and Civil 7 refer).

Proceedings Total civil legal aid certificates issued 1996/97 Certificate issued for residence and contact orders Percentages of all certificates issued which relate to residence and contact

Matrimonial proceedings 91,911 12,099 13.16

Private Law proceedings¹ 69,889 58,072 83.09

Non-matrimonial proceedings 162,752 n/a n/a

Public Law proceedings¹ 21,434 n/a n/a

Total certificates 345,986 70,171 20.28

ABWOR bills paid 7,703 6,272 81.42

¹ Applications for the various different orders available under the Children Act 1989 can be made under either Public or Private law proceedings. Application for residence and contact orders made under the Children Act 1989 are specifically included under Private law proceedings above.

§ Miss McIntosh
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to review the training of administrators on the Legal Aid Board. [43889]

§ Mr. Hoon
The Legal Aid Board is an independent body and I do not interfere in the day-to-day running of the organisation. There are two executive members of the Legal Aid Board who are administrators, the Chief Executive and the Director of Resources and Supplier Development. Their training is monitored by the Board's Top Management and Personnel Committee. The Committee is chaired by the Chairman of the Board and oversees the performance of all senior executives and is responsible for ensuring that they are adequately trained. We have no plans to review arrangements.

Proceedings	Total civil legal aid certificates issued 1996/97	Certificate issued for residence and contact orders	Percentages of all certificates issued which relate to residence and contact
Matrimonial proceedings	91,911	12,099	13.16
Private Law proceedings¹	69,889	58,072	83.09
Non-matrimonial proceedings	162,752	n/a	n/a
Public Law proceedings¹	21,434	n/a	n/a
Total certificates	345,986	70,171	20.28
ABWOR bills paid	7,703	6,272	81.42
¹ Applications for the various different orders available under the Children Act 1989 can be made under either Public or Private law proceedings. Application for residence and contact orders made under the Children Act 1989 are specifically included under Private law proceedings above.