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12 FEBRUARY 1976
Mr. Hooley asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will advise Her Majesty the Queen to appoint as Governor of Hong Kong, on the expiry of the term of office of the present Governor, a British citizen who is Chinese by birth.
Mr. Ennals I do not think it would be appropriate for me to speculate now on what advice my right hon. Friend might give Her Majesty the Queen at the time.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY President's Report on Integration Mrs. Winifred Ewing asked the Secre- tary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs what recent reply he has sent to Mr. Francois Xavier Ortoli, Pre- sident of the EEC Commission, on EEC integration.
Mr. Hattersley: I cannot identify any recent correspondence which might fit the hon. Member's description. If the hon. Lady has a particular communication in mind, perhaps she will table a further Question, or write to me about it.
LEGAL AID
Mr. Ashley asked the Attorney- General if he will seek to establish a legal services commission to take over the administration of the legal services which are at present controlled by the Lord Chancellor, the Home Secretary, the Law Society and the legal aid respon- sibilities of the courts.
The Attorney-General: This question must now be considered in the light of my right honourable Friend the Prime Minister's announcement about the estab lishment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the provision of legal services.
Mr. Ashley asked the Attorney-General what estimate he has made of the size of unmet legal need: what steps he has taken to remedy it so far; and if he will make a statement.
The Attorney-General: My noble Friend has encouraged the development of law centres and has made funds avail- able to those centres in severe financial
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Written Answers straits. He has raised the income limits September 1974, June 1975 and January for legal aid, advice and assistance in 1976. He has publicised the Green Form Scheme for legal advice and assistance. He has encouraged the small claims pro- cedure in county courts. None the less. my noble Friend is well aware that there remains an extensive area of unmet need for legal services and he is urgently con- sidering how this can best be met.
Mr. Ashley asked the Attorney-General if he will make it his policy to consider the desirability of legal aid and repre- sentation for consumers seeking redress by litigation.
The Attorney-General: Legal aid is already generally available for those con- sumers who wish to bring proceedings before the courts and who are financially eligible.
SOLICITORS
Mr. Ashiey asked the Attorney-General Date 12276
what is the national average of the population served per solicitor : and if he is satisûed that each geographical area has an adequate supply of solicitors to ensure that its legal needs are met.
The Attorney-General: The average number of persons served per solicitor in private practice in England and Wales is approximately 1,900. The answer to the second part of the Question is No", and this accounts for a part of the unmet nced which my nobie Friend is studying.
LAWYERS
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Mr. Ashley asked the Attorney- General how many complaints he has received in each of the last five years about the standards of service provided by solicitors and barristers.
The Attorney-General: My noble Friend and I receive many letters, relating to all aspects of the administration of justice. It is impossible, without dis- proportionate expenditure, to isolate those which include complaints about the standards of service provided by the legal profession.
Mr. Ashley asked the Attorney- General if he is satisfied with existing
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