Written question asked by Martin Salter (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 February 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 February 2000. It was answered by David Lock (Labour) on Monday, 14 February 2000 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will investigate reports that staff at the Reading Area Legal Aid Board office are required to make up missing details on legal aid application forms.

Answer: Mr. Salter: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will investigate reports that staff at the Reading Area Legal Aid Board office are required to make up missing details on legal aid application forms. [110015] Mr. Lock: The Board's computer system provides a facility for the collection of a great deal of information, not all of which is essential for the purposes of assessing legal aid applications. Where supervisors are otherwise satisfied about the validity of an application or claim, and where the cost of obtaining any missing information could not be justified they may authorise certain information not to be entered. For example, in some cases where the client's date of birth is omitted from a form, staff may be authorised to enter a notional date on the computer, but only where this will not compromise proper control over legal aid expenditure.

Secondary information