Written question asked by Paul Stinchcombe (Labour) on Wednesday, 4 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 3 May 2001. It was answered by David Lock (Labour) on Thursday, 3 May 2001 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how much civil legal aid was allocated for personal injury cases in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99.

Answer: Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much civil legal aid was allocated for personal injury cases in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99. [R] [157435] Mr. Lock: [holding answer 10 April 2001]: No funds from the civil legal aid budget were specifically allocated for personal injury cases. However, in terms of expenditure, the latest year for which information is available is 1997-98 (changes to the Legal Services Commission's computer systems mean that information is not yet available for 1998-99 onwards). In that year, the cost of these cases was £307.7 million (gross) of which £242.1 million was recovered by way of contributions received or costs and damages received on behalf of the assisted persons. In addition it is estimated that the cost to the Legal Services Commission of administering these cases was £2.9 million.

Secondary information