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Column 227

Written Answers to Questions

Thursday 18 July 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Legal Aid

Mr. Wigley : To ask the Attorney-General how many people have been granted legal aid to assist them in taking legal action against drug companies in relation to the effects of tranquilisers.

The Attorney-General : As at 5 July 1991 5,337 people had been granted full civil legal aid certificates by the Legal Aid Board to enable them to take legal action in relation to the effects of tranquilisers.

Asylum Cases

Mr. Fraser : To ask the Attorney-General what will be the annual spending reduction as a result of the abolition of green form assistance for political asylum cases ; and what consultations will take place about this change in the legal aid scheme.

The Attorney-General : The annual reduction in the legal aid costs will depend on the final details of the new arrangements with the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service for the economic and effective provision of advice and assistance in immigration and political asylum cases. Consultation will take place on the detailed implementation of the proposals.

Syndicates (Investigations)

Mr. Bowis : To ask the Attorney-General what are the

recommendations from the Serious Fraud Office that have been put to the chairman or chief executive of Lloyd's, following the completion of the preliminary investigations into syndicates 317-661.

The Attorney-General : I regret that I do not think it appropriate to give information about any communications between the Serious Fraud Office and any regulatory bodies.

Judicial Appointments (Women)

Mr. Fraser : To ask the Attorney-General how many women there are in each class of judicial appointments ; and what change there has been in the numbers over the last year.

The Attorney-General : The numbers of women currently in post as judges or stipendiry magistrates, and those in post a year ago, together with the net change, are as follows :