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Mr. Malins
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures he plans to cut the criminal legal aid bill. [7471]
Mr. Hoon
Sir Peter Middleton has been appointed to undertake a review of civil justice and legal aid reforms. The review will cover criminal legal aid. Sir Peter is to produce a preliminary report by the end of September. No decisions about legal aid will be made in advance of the report.
Mr. Malins
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost to the Exchequer in legal aid in the Crown Court of (a) barristers and (b) instructing solicitors, in the most recent year for which figures are available. [7466]
Mr. Hoon
The cost to legal aid in the Crown Court for 1996–97 was as follows:
| 1996–97 | |
| £ million | |
| Solicitors | 141.85 |
| Barrister1 | 172.93 |
| Total | 314.78 |
| 1 The expenditure on barristers includes £0.25 million in respect of graduated fees which may include a small proportion of costs for solicitor advocates. | |