§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the granting of legal aid to Kenneth Noye. [132583]
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§ Jane KennedyFollowing the granting of legal aid to Kenneth Noye at the central criminal court, a team of qualified auditors from the Lord Chancellor's Department's Internal Assurance Division have undertaken an investigation. They checked criminal legal aid applications made in respect of defendants, including Kenneth Noye, at the central criminal court over the past year. They have reported to the Permanent Secretary at the Lord Chancellor's Department, in his capacity as Accounting Officer. The auditors found that the proper procedures for granting legal aid were not followed in this case. As a result, additional training, checking and controls are being introduced across the court Service to ensure that the correct procedures for the granting of legal aid by the Crown court are followed.
Disciplinary proceedings are under way affecting the officers concerned with handling the application in the Noye case.