asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount of legal aid in the latest 12 months for which figures are available in England and Wales; and in respect of what total number of cases such aid was given.

As regards legal aid in criminal proceedings, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his Question on 24th March—[Vol. 928, c. 600.]I understand from my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor that in the financial year 1975–76 the total

expenditure on legal aid and advice in civil proceedings was as follows:

	£
Legal aid	16,258,668
Legal advice and assistance	4,281,086
Administration	6,402,385

During the same period 203,908 legal aid certificates for civil proceedings were issued and 254,558 bills for advice and assistance were paid.