§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 2001,Official Reyort, column 751W, on legal aid, what estimate he has made of Government spending on (a) legal aid, (b) Legal Help and (c) Children Act 1989 cases in the most recent year for which figures are available. [152764]
§ Mr. LockNet expenditure in 1999–2000 on Civil Legal Aid was approximately £766 million. This includes approximately £201 million on what is now known as Legal Help. Expenditure on Child] en Act 1989 cases (included in the £766 million reterred to) is estimated at £218 million.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's answer Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 2001,Official Report, column 751W, concerning financial awards from successful civil cases 392W funded by legal aid, what damages were awarded or agreed in publicly funded cases by category for 1997–98; and if he will provide figures relating to payments by instalment. [152763]
§ Mr. LockDuring 1997–98 damages were awarded or agreed in publicly funded civil cases as follows:
In Matrimonial and Family proceedings categorised as:
- (i) ancillary relief—£466,784,701;
- (ii) other divorce/judicial separation proceedings—£36,359,303;
- (iii) other proceedings involving children £9,922,001.
In Non-Matrimonial civil proceedings categorised as:
- (i) personal injury—£644,142,212;
- (ii) other proceedings for negligence or tort—£86,699,293;
- (iii) business-related proceedings—£57,294,136;
- (iv) proceedings involving land or property—£45,340,029;
- (v) housing proceedings—£21,048,104;
- (vi) appeals and other miscellaneous proceedings—£2,859,565.
The total awarded or agreed was therefore £1.37 billion.
The Legal Aid Board did not collect information on the value of awards for periodic payments because under Regulation 94(c) of the Civil Legal Aid (General) Regulations 1989 such payments were exempt from the Board's Statutory Charge.