Written question asked by Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative) on Friday, 12 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 November 2004. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 November 2004 on behalf of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Dept for Constitutional Affairs

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what plans the Department has to exclude ownership of property from the means testing for eligibility for (a) civil and (b) criminal legal aid.

Answer: Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Department has to exclude ownership of property from the means testing for eligibility for (a) civil and (b) criminal legal aid. [198896] Mr. Lammy: Consultation recently closed on a package of reforms to the civil legal aid scheme, including the removal of the current rule which disregards 100k of equity in an applicant's home, when assessing financial eligibility for legal aid. There will of course be exemptions in place for those on passported benefits or on the lowest incomes. We will announce the way forward in due course. The draft Criminal Defence Service Bill, transfers the grant of criminal public funding from the courts to the Legal Services Commission and re-introduces the means test for criminal public funding. The three models proposed in the original consultation paper took account of income alone. Revised proposals will be published shortly.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 198896; 426 c1562W;426 c1565-6W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Criminal proceedings Civil proceedings Legal aid scheme Eligibility Ownership Property
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk