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Legal Aid: Wales

Volume 459: debated on Monday 16 April 2007

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was spent on legal aid in Wales in each year since 1992; and if she will make a statement. (130586)

Legal aid expenditure in Wales earlier than 1999-2000 pre-dates the current management information systems and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Legal aid funding is administered centrally and is not granted to specific geographical areas.

An individual based in one area can receive legal help and representation from a legal service provider based in another. The following table shows the amounts paid to legal service providers based in Wales across all areas of legal aid.

Figures for the Crown court are based on the bills paid for proceedings in Crown court locations based in Wales and Chester.

£ million

Legal aid paid for licensed work in civil matters—including representation where available

Legal aid paid for controlled work in civil matters limited to legal advice and assistance

Legal aid paid for legal advice given in criminal matters and also representation in criminal proceedings in the magistrates' courts

Legal aid paid under individual case contracts in lengthy and complex criminal cases (VHCCs)

Legal aid paid by the Crown court locations in Wales and Chester

1999-2000

37.3

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

2000-01

27.0

7.2

(1)

(1)

(1)

2001-02

30.8

9. 1

26.4

0.2

22.9

2002-03

26.8

11. 1

29.9

0.2

28.3

2003-04

32.2

11. 7

29.8

0.1

29.7

2004-05

31.0

11. 2

28.8

0.9

26.5

2005-06

34.8

11. 5

28.3

1.5

25.8

(1) Data not available