asked the Minister for Justice the cost of providing free legal aid in each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Free Legal Aid.
214.
The cost in the calendar year 1974 was £50,278, in 1975 it was £54,172, in 1976 it was £76,752 and in the nine months period 1st January to 30th September 1977 it was £165,000.
These figures, it will be seen, show a marked upward trend, particularly since 1975. There are various reasons for this—principally an increase in the number of cases in which legal aid has been granted by the courts and increases in the legal aid fees paid to solicitors and counsel. The indications are that the cost of legal aid will continue to rise because of increasing recourse to the scheme and because the full effect of recent increases in legal aid, fees will not become apparent for some time.