§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions the Lord Chancellor has(a) authorised and (b) refused requests for funding in exceptional individual cases under section 6(8)(b) of the Access to Justice Act 1999 for representation before (i) a tribunal, (ii) an inquest and (iii) a public inquiry. [133574]
§ Mr. LockPursuant to my written answer of 26 July 2000 to the hon. Member for Torridge and West Devon (Mr. Burnett),Official Report, column 716W, the Lord Chancellor's powers in respect of exceptional cases are as follows:
Under s.6(8)(a) of the Access to Justice Act, he may direct the Legal Services Commission to fund cases in circumstances specified in the direction. Under s.6(8)(b), he may authorise the Commission to fund cases in circumstances specified in the authorisation, and he may authorise funding in individual cases where the Commission asks him to do so. I refer the hon. Member to that written answer.