Legal Aid scheme flawed, say MPs

Andrew Buncombe
Friday 06 February 1998 00:02 GMT
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Legal Aid scheme flawed, say MPs

A damning condemnation of the way in which legal aid is awarded has been made by MPs after it was revealed around half of all assessments are flawed.

The Committee of Public Accounts said taxpayers were unnecessarily paying out millions of pounds every year as a result of incorrect calculations about applicants' income and expenses.

Last night, David Davis MP said: "It is not good enough that taxpayers' money is spent on this burgeoning legal aid bill without proper checks on eligibility. It is our job to ensure that improvements are made."

The report, published today, shows that pounds 544m was spent last year on legal aid.

- Andrew Buncombe

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