The following table shows the information requested. The numbers of orders reported as being granted each month are subject to minor adjustments as cases are processed and progress through the system.
Representation orders granted October 2006 34,254 November 2006 44,281 December 2006 34,815 January 2007 47,842 February 2007 43,790 March 2007 46,849 April 2007 43,153 May 2007 47,501 June 2007 47,063 July 2007 47,974 August 2007 47,272 September 2007 43,198 October 2007 48,573 November 2007 45,686 December 2007 33,968
The cost of legal aid in England and Wales and in Northern Ireland for each of the last 10 financial years is shown in the following table. Responsibility for legal aid in Scotland is devolved and is therefore a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 England and Wales 1,529.6 1,628.1 1,550.1 1,663.7 1,717.0 1,908.5 2,076.7 2,038.0 2,027.8 1,980.3 Northern Ireland 28.9 30.1 34.7 37.7 41.5 45.0 49.9 58.9 57.5 69.0 Total 1,558 1,658 1,585 1,701 1,759 1,954 2,127 2,097 2,085 2,049