§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his oral statement of 4 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1059–63, if industrial diseases claims will remain within the scope of legal aid. [33627]
§ Mr. HoonSubject to consultation, I would not expect these cases to remain within the scope of legal aid. I would welcome any views which the hon. Member would like to contribute during the consultation period which ends on 30 April this year.
§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his oral statement of 4 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1059–63, what is the total sum that will be paid into the Transitional Fund; and when it will be established. [33628]
§ Mr. HoonThe resources allocated to the transitional fund will be determined each year depending upon the total legal aid budget and the priorities for spending elsewhere. I anticipate that the fund will be established by the end of the year.
§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his oral statement of 4 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1059–63, when he will introduce legislation to establish the Public Interest Fund. [33629]
§ Mr. HoonWe plan to publish a White Paper in the Summer. This will set out our plans for longer-term reform, including seeking a new Bill, and will also set out our plans for assisting cases with a significant public interest.
§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his oral statement of 4 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1059–63, what is the total sum to be paid into the Public Interest Fund; and what will be the source of that money. [33630]
145W
§ Mr. HoonUntil we have new legislation, we cannot establish a Public Interest Fund. However, we do intend to provide, under transitional arrangements, for personal injury cases excluded from legal aid which have a wider public interest, to continue to receive public subsidy until we can set up new arrangements with new legislation.
§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what research he has commissioned into the reasons for the scale of increase of the cost of civil and family legal aid over the last seven years; and if he will publish it. [33634]