asked the Attorney-General what advice he has received from the Law Society concerning the extention of legal aid, free of any means test, in all personal injury claims for which legal aid would be likely to be granted under present criteria, other than financial circumstances; and what would be the additional cost to the Exchequer of accepting that advice.

The Law Society has not given such advice. However, a working party on which the Law Society was represented recommended that power should be sought to allow legal aid, to those financially eligible for it, without, as at present, requiring a contribution from them. The cost of that more limited change was put at about £70,000 in 1975–76.