asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost of legal aid in 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978.

Estimates for calendar years up to 1977 of the total amount paid under the legal aid scheme with respect to criminal and care proceedings in England and Wales were published in table 7·4 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1977"—Cmnd 7289. I understand from my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor that expenditure on legal aid in civil proceedings in financial years up to 1976–77 was published in appendix 22 of "27th Legal Aid Annual Reports [1976–77]"—HC 172—and that the net cost of civil and criminal legal aid in England and Wales for 1977–78 was £81,752,000.