asked the Minister for Justice the approximate number of accused persons who have been returned for trial and whose trials cannot take place in whole or in part because of the refusal of the barristers' profession to work the legal aid scheme; and the proportion of such accused persons who have been returned for trial (i) in the past year (ii) more than a year and less than two years ago and (iii) more than two years ago.
Written Answers. - Legal Aid Scheme.
84.
The relevant court statistics relate to the number of trials pending rather than the number of accused persons; a trial can involve one or more charges against one or more persons. The number of trials which stood adjourned at 1st June, 1976, because of the barristers' withdrawal from the legal aid scheme was approximately 700.
For the purpose of the second part of the question the figure of 700 trials may be very roughly apportioned as follows: (i) 440; (ii) 130; and (iii) 130.