Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

[F1PART 2N.I.CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES AND CRIMINAL DEFENCE SERVICES

Functions of the Department: general]N.I.

[F2Exercise of functions of the Department under this PartN.I.

3.  The Department shall exercise its functions under this Part for the purpose of—

(a)securing (within the resources made available, and priorities set, in accordance with this Part) that individuals have access to civil legal services that effectively meet their needs, and promoting the availability to individuals of such services; and

(b)securing that individuals involved in criminal investigations or relevant proceedings have access to such criminal defence services as the interests of justice require.]

Membership of the CommissionN.I.

F34.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Power to replace Commission with two bodiesN.I.

F45.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PlanningN.I.

6.—(1) The [F5Department] shall inform itself about—

(a)the need for, and the provision of, civil legal services and criminal defence services, and

(b)the quality of the services provided.

(2) [F6The Department] shall plan what can be done towards meeting that need by the performance by [F6the Department and the Director of their relevant functions] .

(3) The [F7Department] may co-operate with such authorities and other bodies and persons as it considers appropriate in facilitating the planning of what can be done by them to meet that need by the use of any resources available to them.

[F8(3A) In this Article and Article 7 “relevant functions” means—

(a)in relation to any time after the coming into operation of Article 21, functions under this Order; and

(b)in relation to any time before the coming into operation of Article 21, functions under this Order and under Part 3 of the Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.]

F9(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F9(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Powers of CommissionN.I.

7.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part and Article 41, the [F10Department] may do anything which it considers—

(a)is necessary or appropriate for, or for facilitating, the discharge of its [F11relevant functions] , or

(b)is incidental or conducive to the discharge of [F12those] functions.

(2) In particular, the [F13Department shall have power under paragraph (1)] —

(a)to enter into any contract,

(b)to make grants (with or without conditions),

(c)to make loans,

(d)to invest money,

(e)to promote or assist in the promotion of publicity relating to [F14relevant functions] ,

(f)to undertake any inquiry or investigation which it may consider appropriate in relation to the discharge of any of [F14relevant functions] , F15...

F15(g). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not confer on the [F16Department] power to borrow money.

F17(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) In considering any question as to the remuneration of persons or bodies providing civil legal services or criminal defence services (whether in individual cases, or by reference to the provision of such services in specified numbers of cases), the [F18Department or the Director] shall have regard, among the matters which are relevant, to—

(a)the time and skill which the provision of services of the description to which the question relates requires;

(b)the number and general level of competence of persons providing those services;

(c)the cost to public funds of the remuneration of persons or bodies providing those services; and

(d)the need to secure value for money.

(7) Where the [F19Department] sets fees which are to be paid to persons or bodies in respect of the provision of services by them, nothing in paragraph (6) requires it to have regard to any fee payable, otherwise than in accordance with this Order, in respect of the provision of such services.

GuidanceN.I.

F208.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Northern Ireland law and foreign lawN.I.

9.—(1) The [F21Department] may not fund—

(a)civil legal services, or

(b)criminal defence services,

relating to any law other than that of Northern Ireland, unless any such law is relevant for determining any issue relating to the law of Northern Ireland.

(2) But the Lord Chancellor may, if it appears to him necessary to do so for the purpose of fulfilling any obligation imposed on the United Kingdom by any international agreement, by order specify that such civil legal services or criminal defence services as are specified in the order, relating to the application of such other law as may be so specified, may be funded by the [F21Department] .

(3) For the purposes of the application of paragraph (2) in the case of an obligation to provide for the transmission to other countries of applications for public funding of legal services under their laws, the reference to civil legal services or criminal defence services relating to the application of other laws includes a reference to advice or assistance for the purposes of making and transmitting such an application.

Civil legal servicesN.I.

Civil legal servicesN.I.

10.—[F22(1) For the purposes of this Order “civil legal services” means—

(a)in relation to any time after the coming into operation of Article 21, advice, assistance and representation, other than advice, assistance or representation which the Department is required to fund as criminal defence services; and

(b)in relation to any time before the coming into operation of Article 21, advice, assistance and representation other than representation in proceedings for the purposes of which free legal aid may be given under Part 3 of the Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.]

(2) The Lord Chancellor may by order provide that “civil legal services” is to include services (other than advice, assistance and representation) which—

(a)are specified in the order,

(b)fall within any of the descriptions specified in paragraph (3), and

(c)are not services which the [F23Department] is required to fund as criminal defence services.

(3) The descriptions of services referred to in paragraph (2) are—

(a)the provision of general information about the law and legal system and the availability of legal services,

(b)the provision of help by the giving of advice as to how the law applies in particular circumstances,

(c)the provision of help in preventing, or settling or otherwise resolving, disputes about legal rights and duties,

(d)the provision of help in enforcing decisions by which such disputes are resolved, and

(e)the provision of help in relation to legal proceedings not relating to disputes.

(4) An order under paragraph (2) may make provision, including provision amending this Order—

(a)about financial matters relating to services specified in the order (including, in particular, provision about eligibility, contributions, charges, remuneration and costs);

(b)modifying the application of Articles 11 to 20 in relation to such services.

(5) Every person who exercises any function relating to civil legal services shall have regard to the desirability of exercising it, so far as is reasonably practicable, so as to—

(a)promote improvements in the quality of those services and in the ways in which they are made accessible to those who need them,

(b)secure that the services provided in relation to any matter are appropriate having regard to its nature and importance, and

(c)achieve the swift and fair resolution of disputes without unnecessary or unduly protracted proceedings in court.

[F24Funding of civil legal services by DepartmentN.I.

11.—(1) Civil legal services shall be funded by the Department out of moneys appropriated for that purpose by Act of the Assembly.

(2) In funding civil legal services the Department shall aim to obtain the best possible value for money.]

Services which may be fundedN.I.

12.—(1) The [F25Department] shall set priorities in its funding of civil legal services, and the priorities shall be set—

F26(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)after taking into account the need for such services.

(2) The [F27Department] may fund civil legal services by—

(a)entering into contracts with persons or bodies for the provision of services by them,

(b)making payments to persons or bodies in respect of the provision of services by them,

(c)making grants or loans to persons or bodies to enable them to provide, or facilitate the provision of, services,

(d)establishing and maintaining bodies to provide, or facilitate the provision of, services,

(e)making grants or loans to individuals to enable them to obtain services,

(f)itself providing services, or

(g)doing anything else which it considers appropriate for funding services,

but this paragraph is subject to Article 41.

[F28(3) The Department may by order make provision about the payment of remuneration by the Department to persons who provide civil legal services.]

(4) The [F29Department] may fund different civil legal services, or civil legal services provided by different means—

(a)in relation to different areas in Northern Ireland, and

(b)in relation to different descriptions of cases.

(5) [F30Except as provided by Article 12A, the Department] may not fund as civil legal services any of the services specified in Schedule 2.

(6) Regulations may amend Schedule 2 by adding new services or omitting or varying any services; and regulations under this paragraph may, in particular, describe the services which are not to be funded as civil legal services by reference to—

(a)the court or tribunal before which proceedings are to take place,

(b)the issues involved, or

(c)the capacity in which a person seeking a service is concerned.

(7) If the effect of regulations amending Schedule 2 under paragraph (6) is that no advice or assistance of any description is to be funded as regards any area, then, so long as Schedule 2 so provides, Article 14(2)(b), 3(b), (6) and (7), and the words “advice, assistance and” in Article 10(1), shall not have effect.

[F31Exceptional fundingN.I.

12A—(1) The Department is to fund the provision of any of the services specified in Schedule 2 to an individual if paragraph (2) or (4) is satisfied.

(2) This paragraph is satisfied if the Director—

(a)has determined that the individual satisfies the requirements of regulations under Article 13 in relation to the services, and

(b)has made an exceptional case determination in relation to the individual and the services,

(and has not withdrawn either determination).

(3) An exceptional case determination is a determination—

(a)that it is necessary to make the services available to the individual under this Order because failure to do so would be a breach of—

(i)the individual's Convention rights (within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998), or

(ii)any rights of the individual to the provision of legal services that are [F32rights (as modified from time to time) which form part of retained EU law by virtue of section 3 or 4 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018], or

(b)that it is appropriate to do so, in the particular circumstances of the case, having regard to any risk that failure to do so would be such a breach.

(4) This paragraph is satisfied if—

(a)the services consist of representation in proceedings at an inquest under the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 into the death of a member of the individual's family,

(b)the Director has made a wider public interest determination in relation to the individual and the inquest, and

(c)the Director has determined that the individual satisfies the requirements of regulations under Article 13 in relation to the services,

(and neither determination has been withdrawn).

(5) A wider public interest determination is a determination that, in the particular circumstances of the case, the provision of representation for the individual for the purposes of the inquest is likely to produce significant benefits for a class of person, other than the individual and the members of the individual's family.

(6) For the purposes of this Article an individual is a member of another individual's family if—

(a)they are relatives (whether of the full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership),

(b)they are cohabitees (as defined in Article 3(1) of the Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998), or

(c)one has parental responsibility for the other.

(7) Articles 14 to 20 do not apply to civil legal services funded under this Article unless they are applied (with or without modification) by an exceptional case determination or a wider public interest determination.]

Individuals for whom services may be fundedN.I.

13.—(1) The [F33Department] may only fund civil legal services for an individual if his financial resources are such that, under regulations, he is an individual for whom the services may be funded by the [F33Department] .

(2) Regulations may provide that, in prescribed circumstances and subject to any prescribed conditions, services of a prescribed description may be funded by the [F33Department] for individuals without reference to their financial resources.

(3) Regulations under this Article may include provision requiring the furnishing of information.

Decisions about provision of funded servicesN.I.

14.—(1) The services which the [F34Department] may fund as civil legal services are those which the [F34Department] considers appropriate (subject to Article 12(5) and the priorities set under Article 12(1)).

(2) Any decision as to whether to fund civil legal services for an individual shall—

(a)in the case of representation, be taken—

(i)by the [F35Director] , or

(ii)in prescribed circumstances, by such person as may be prescribed;

(b)in the case of advice and assistance, be taken by the person from whom the advice or assistance is sought.

[F36(2A) A grant of representation for an individual for the purposes of proceedings—

(a)shall not be made unless the individual shows there are reasonable grounds for taking, defending or being a party to the proceedings; and

(b)may be refused if, in the particular circumstances of the case, it appears unreasonable that representation should be granted.

(2B) Guidance given to the Director under section3 of the Legal Aid and Coroners' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 may, in particular, include guidance as to the criteria according to which any decision is to be taken by the Director under paragraph (2A).]

(3) The grant of representation for the purposes of proceedings includes any such advice and assistance as to an appeal—

(a)as may be specified by the [F37Director] , or

(b)as may be prescribed in relation to representation granted by virtue of paragrah (2)(a)(ii).

(4) The [F38Department] may fund representation for an individual for a limited period, for the purposes of specified proceedings only, or for the purposes of limited aspects of proceedings, and may amend, withdraw or revoke the representation, or vary or remove any limitation imposed on the representation.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (4), the grant of representation may be limited under that paragraph as regards the persons who may represent the individual to representation only in pursuance of a contract made with the [F38Department] .

(6) Regulations may—

(a)prohibit the giving of advice or assistance without the approval of the [F39Director] to the extent that the costs of giving it exceed such limit as may be prescribed;

(b)prohibit the funding of advice or assistance by the [F40Department] except where it is provided by a person in pursuance of a contract made with the [F40Department] .

(7) No decision may be taken under this Article to fund advice and assistance for an individual in connection with any proceedings at a time when he has been granted a right to representation in respect of those proceedings under any provision of this Part (but this does not affect paragraph (3) or any assistance included in representation).

[F41Regulations as to procedures for funding decisionsN.I.

15.  The Department may make regulations as to the procedures for the making of decisions about the funding by the Department of civil legal services, including—

(a)provision about the form and content of applications for funding,

(b)provision imposing conditions which must be satisfied by an individual applying for funding,

(c)provision requiring applicants to be informed of the reasons for any decision to refuse an application,

(d)provision for the giving of information to individuals whose applications are refused about alternative ways of obtaining or funding services, and

(e)provision establishing procedures for reviews of decisions about funding and for the giving of information about those procedures.]

Procedure relating to funding codeN.I.

F4216.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Terms of provision of funded servicesN.I.

17.—(1) An individual for whom civil legal services are funded by the [F43Department] shall not be required to make any payment in respect of the services except where regulations otherwise provide.

(2) Regulations may provide that, in prescribed circumstances, an individual for whom civil legal services are so funded shall—

(a)pay a fee of such amount as is fixed by or determined under the regulations,

(b)if his financial resources are, or relevant conduct is, such as to make him liable to do so under the regulations, pay the cost of the services or make a contribution in respect of the cost of the services of such amount as is so fixed or determined, or

(c)if the services relate to a dispute and he has agreed to make a payment (which may exceed the cost of the services) only in specified circumstances, make in those circumstances a payment of the amount agreed, or determined in the manner agreed, by him;

and in sub-paragraph (b) “relevant conduct” means conduct in connection with the services (or any application for their funding) or in, or in connection with, any proceedings in relation to which they are provided.

(3) The regulations may include provision for any amount payable in accordance with the regulations to be payable by periodical payments or one or more capital sums, or both.

(4) The regulations may also include provision for the payment by an individual of interest (on such terms as may be prescribed) in respect of—

(a)any loan made to him by the [F43Department] in connection with civil legal services,

(b)any payment in respect of the cost of services required by the regulations to be made by him later than the time when the services are provided, or

(c)so much of any payment required by the regulations to be made by him which remains unpaid after the time when it is required to be paid.

(5) The regulations shall include provision for the repayment to an individual of any payment made by him in excess of his liability under the regulations.

(6) The regulations may—

(a)include provision requiring the furnishing of information, and

(b)make provision for the determination of the cost of services for the purposes of the regulations.

(7) Except so far as regulations otherwise provide, where civil legal services have been funded by the [F43Department] for an individual, sums expended by the [F43Department] in funding the services (except to the extent that they are recovered under Articles 18 to 20), and other sums payable by the individual by virtue of regulations under this Article, shall constitute a first charge—

(a)on any costs which (whether by virtue of a judgment or order of a court or an agreement or otherwise) are payable to him in respect of the matter in connection with which the services are provided, and

(b)on any property (of whatever nature and wherever situated) which is recovered or preserved by him (whether for himself or any other person) in connection with that matter, including any property recovered or preserved in any proceedings and his rights under any compromise or settlement arrived at to avoid or bring to an end any proceedings.

(8) Regulations may make provision about the charge, including—

(a)provision as to whether it is in favour of the [F43Department] or the body or person by whom the services were provided, and

(b)provision about its enforcement.

Costs orders against assisted partiesN.I.

18.—(1) Except in prescribed circumstances, costs ordered against an individual in relation to any proceedings or part of proceedings funded for him shall not exceed the amount (if any) which is a reasonable one for him to pay having regard to all the circumstances, including—

(a)the financial resources of all parties to the proceedings, and

(b)their conduct in connection with the dispute to which the proceedings relate;

and for this purpose proceedings, or a part of proceedings, are funded for an individual if civil legal services relating to the proceedings or part are funded for him by the [F44Department] .

(2) In assessing for the purposes of paragraph (1) the financial resources of an individual for whom civil legal services are funded by the [F44Department] , his clothes and household furniture and the tools and implements of his trade shall not be taken into account, except so far as may be prescribed.

Costs of successful unassisted partiesN.I.

19.—(1) This Article applies to proceedings—

(a)to which an individual, for whom civil legal services relating to the proceedings, or to a part of the proceedings, are funded by the [F45Department] , is a party, and

(b)which are finally decided in favour of a party for whom such services are not so funded ( “the unassisted party”).

(2) In any proceedings to which this Article applies the court by which the proceedings were so decided may, subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), make an order for the payment by the [F45Department] to the unassisted party of the whole or any part of the costs incurred by him in the proceedings.

(3) Before making an order under this Article, the court shall consider what orders should be made for costs against the party for whom civil legal services relating to the proceedings, or to a part of the proceedings, are funded by the [F45Department] and for determining his liability in respect of such costs.

(4) An order under this Article in respect of any costs may only be made if—

(a)an order for costs would be made in the proceedings apart from this Order;

(b)as respects the costs incurred in a court of first instance, those proceedings were instituted by the party for whom civil legal services relating to the proceedings, or to a part of the proceedings, are funded by the [F45Department] and the court is satisfied that the unassisted party will suffer financial hardship unless the order is made; and

(c)in any case, the court is satisfied that it is just and equitable in all the circumstances of the case that provision for the costs should be made out of public funds.

(5) Without prejudice to any other provision restricting appeals from any court, no appeal shall lie against an order under this Article, or against a refusal to make such an order, except on a point of law.

(6) In this Article “costs” means costs as between party and party, and includes the costs of applying for an order under this Article.

(7) For the purposes of this Article proceedings shall be treated as finally decided in favour of the unassisted party—

(a)if no appeal lies against the decision in his favour,

(b)if an appeal lies against the decision with leave, and the time limited for applications for leave expires without leave being granted, or

(c)if leave to appeal against the decision is granted or is not required, and no appeal is brought within the time limited for appeal,

and where an appeal against the decision is brought out of time the court by which the appeal (or any further appeal in those proceedings) is determined may make an order for the repayment by the unassisted party to the [F45Department] of the whole or any part of any sum previously paid to him under this Article in respect of those proceedings.

(8) Where a court decides any proceedings in favour of the unassisted party and an appeal lies (with or without leave) against that decision, the court may, if it thinks fit, make or refuse to make an order under this Article forthwith, but if an order is made forthwith it shall not take effect—

(a)where leave to appeal is required, unless the time limited for applications for leave to appeal expires without leave being granted;

(b)where leave to appeal is granted or is not required, unless the time limited for appeal expires without an appeal being brought.

(9) Where a party begins to receive civil legal services after the proceedings have been instituted, or ceases to receive such services before they are finally decided, or otherwise receives such services in connection with part only of the proceedings, the reference in paragraph (2) to the costs incurred by the unassisted party in the proceedings shall be construed as a reference to so much of those costs as is attributable to that part.

(10) For the purposes of this Article “court” includes a tribunal.

Regulations about costs in funded casesN.I.

20.—(1) Subject to Articles 18 and 19, regulations may make provision about costs in relation to proceedings in relation to which, or to a part of which, civil legal services are funded for any of the parties by the [F46Department] .

(2) The regulations may, in particular, make provision—

(a)specifying the principles to be applied in determining the amount of any costs which may be awarded against a party for whom civil legal services are funded by the [F46Department] ,

(b)limiting the circumstances in which, or the extent to which, an order for costs may be enforced against such a party,

(c)as to the cases in which, and extent to which, such a party may be required to give security for costs and the manner in which it is to be given,

(d)requiring the payment by the [F46Department] of the whole or part of any costs incurred by a party for whom civil legal services are not funded by the [F46Department] ,

(e)specifying the principles to be applied in determining the amount of any costs which may be awarded to a party for whom civil legal services are funded by the [F46Department] ,

(f)requiring the payment to the [F46Department] , or the person or body by which the services were provided, of the whole or part of any sum awarded by way of costs to such a party, and

(g)as to the court, tribunal or other person or body by whom the amount of any costs is to be determined and the extent to which any determination of that amount is to be final.

[F47Appeal panelsN.I.

20A—(1) The Department must by regulations make provision for—

(a)the constitution and procedure of appeal panels; and

(b)appeals to such a panel against prescribed decisions taken in the exercise of functions conferred or imposed on the Director by or under Articles 12A to 20.

(2) The regulations may in particular—

(a)provide for an appeal panel to consist of—

(i)a presiding member, selected in the prescribed manner from a list of persons appointed by the Department to act as presiding members of appeal panels; and

(ii)a prescribed number of other members, selected in the prescribed manner from a list of persons appointed by the Department to act as other members of appeal panels;

(b)prescribe qualifications for appointment to a list mentioned in sub-paragraph (a);

(c)provide for disqualifying prescribed persons or persons of prescribed descriptions for membership of an appeal panel;

(d)provide for two or more appeal panels to sit at the same time;

(e)provide for appeal panels to sit in private, except in such circumstances as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the regulations;

(f)provide for the decision on an appeal to be taken without hearing any oral representations, except in such cases as may be prescribed;

(g)provide for the powers of an appeal panel on determining an appeal;

(h)require an appeal panel to give reasons in writing for its decision on an appeal;

(i)provide for a decision of the appeal panel on an appeal to be final;

(j)provide that all matters relating to the procedure of an appeal panel on an appeal which are not specifically regulated by the regulations are to be determined by the presiding member;

(k)contain such other provision as appears to the Department necessary or expedient for the efficient and effective working of the appeal panels.

(3) The Department—

(a)may make payments to the members of an appeal panel of amounts or at rates not exceeding such amounts or rates, and on such conditions, as the Department may determine;

(b)shall arrange for the provision to appeal panels of such facilities, staff and assistance as the Department considers appropriate;

(c)shall meet any other costs properly incurred by such panels.]

Criminal defence servicesN.I.

Criminal defence servicesN.I.

21.—(1) The Commission shall establish and maintain a fund from which it shall fund—

(a)advice and assistance in accordance with Article 23, and

(b)representation in accordance with Articles 24 and 30,

and in this Order services which can be so funded are referred to as “criminal defence services”.

(2) The Lord Chancellor shall pay to the Commission such sums as are required to meet the costs of any criminal defence services funded by the Commission.

(3) The Lord Chancellor may—

(a)determine the manner in which and times at which the sums referred to in paragraph (2) shall be paid to the Commission, and

(b)impose conditions on the payment of the sums.

(4) In funding criminal defence services the Commission shall aim to obtain the best possible value for money.

(5) The Commission shall pay into the fund established under paragraph (1)—

(a)sums received from the Lord Chancellor under paragraph (2),

(b)sums received by the Commission by virtue of an order by a court under Article 31,

(c)sums received by the Commission by virtue of an order by a court under section 4 or 6 of the Costs in Criminal Cases Act (Northern Ireland) 1968F48, and

(d)such other receipts of the Commission as the Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Treasury, determine.

(6) Where the Commission considers that the amount in the fund established under paragraph (1) significantly exceeds the amount which will be paid out before the next payment by the Lord Chancellor under paragraph (2), it shall—

(a)inform the Lord Chancellor, and

(b)if he so directs, pay to the Lord Chancellor so much of the excess as is specified in the direction.

Criminal defence services: code of conductN.I.

22.—(1) The Commission shall prepare a code of conduct to be observed by employees of the Commission, and employees of any body established and maintained by the Commission, in the provision of criminal defence services.

(2) The code shall include—

(a)duties imposed in accordance with any scheme made by the Commission under Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998F49 (equality schemes),

(b)duties to protect the interests of the individuals for whom criminal defence services are provided,

(c)duties to the court,

(d)duties to avoid conflicts of interest, and

(e)duties of confidentiality,

and duties on employees who are members of a professional body to comply with the rules of the body.

(3) The Commission may from time to time prepare a revised version of the code.

(4) Before preparing or revising the code the Commission shall consult the Law Society and the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland and such other bodies or persons as it considers appropriate.

(5) After preparing the code or a revised version of the code the Commission shall send a copy to the Lord Chancellor.

(6) If he approves it he shall lay it before [F50the Assembly].

(7) The Commission shall publish—

(a)the code as first approved by the Lord Chancellor, and

(b)where he approves a revised version, either the revisions or the revised code as appropriate.

(8) The code, and any revised version of the code, shall not come into force until it has been approved by a resolution of [F51the Assembly].

Advice and assistanceN.I.

23.—(1) The Commission shall fund such advice and assistance as it considers appropriate—

(a)for individuals who are arrested and held in custody at a police station or other premises, and

(b)in prescribed circumstances, for individuals who—

(i)are not within sub-paragraph (a) but are involved in investigations which may lead to relevant proceedings,

(ii)are before a court or other body in such proceedings, or

(iii)have been the subject of such proceedings.

(2) The Commission may comply with the duty imposed by paragraph (1) by—

(a)entering into contracts with persons or bodies for the provision of advice or assistance by them,

(b)making payments to persons or bodies in respect of the provision of advice or assistance by them,

(c)making grants or loans to persons or bodies to enable them to provide, or facilitate the provision of, advice or assistance,

(d)establishing and maintaining bodies to provide, or facilitate the provision of, advice or assistance,

(e)making grants to individuals to enable them to obtain advice or assistance,

(f)employing persons to provide advice or assistance, or

(g)doing anything else which it considers appropriate for funding advice and assistance.

(3) The Lord Chancellor may by order require the Commission to discharge the function in paragraph (2) in accordance with the order.

(4) The Commission may fund advice and assistance by different means—

(a)in different areas in Northern Ireland, and

(b)in relation to different descriptions of cases.

RepresentationN.I.

24.—(1) The Commission shall fund representation to which an individual has been granted a right in accordance with Articles 25 to 29.

(2) Subject to the following provisions, the Commission may comply with the duty imposed by paragraph (1) by—

(a)entering into contracts with persons or bodies for the provision of representation by them,

(b)making payments to persons or bodies in respect of the provision of representation by them,

(c)making grants or loans to persons or bodies to enable them to provide, or facilitate the provision of, representation,

(d)establishing and maintaining bodies to provide, or facilitate the provision of, representation,

(e)making grants to individuals to enable them to obtain representation,

(f)employing persons to provide representation, or

(g)doing anything else which it considers appropriate for funding representation.

(3) The Lord Chancellor—

(a)shall by order make provision about the payments which may be made by the Commission in respect of any representation provided by non-contracted private practitioners, F52...

F52(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(a) representation is provided by a non-contracted private practitioner if it is provided, otherwise than pursuant to a contract entered into by the Commission, by a person or body which is neither—

(a)a person or body in receipt of grants or loans made by the Commission under paragraph (2), nor

(b)the Commission itself or a body established or maintained by the Commission.

(5) The provision which the Lord Chancellor is required to make by order under paragraph (3)(a) includes provision for reviews of, or appeals against, determinations for the purposes of the order.

(6) The Commission may fund representation by different means—

(a)in different areas in Northern Ireland, and

(b)in relation to different descriptions of cases.

Individuals to whom right to representation may be grantedN.I.

25.—(1) A right to representation may be granted—

(a)for the purposes of any kind of proceedings specified in paragraph (2), to an individual such as is mentioned in that paragraph in relation to that kind of proceedings;

(b)to an individual for the purposes of enabling him to resist an appeal in proceedings specified in paragraph (2) otherwise than in an official capacity;

(c)for the purposes of a diversionary youth conference, to a child with respect to whom the conference has been, or is to be, convened,

(d)to an individual for the purposes of proceedings concerning him which are of such a kind, and are before such court or other body, as may be prescribed,

and in this Order proceedings mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) are referred to as “relevant proceedings”.

(2) The proceedings referred to in paragraph (1)(a) and (b) are—

(a)proceedings before any court for dealing with an individual accused of an offence,

(b)proceedings before—

(i)any court, or

(ii)the [F53Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland],

for dealing with an individual convicted of an offence (including proceedings in respect of a sentence or order),

[F54(c)proceedings for dealing with an individual under Part I or II of the Extradition Act 2003 (c.41);]

(d)proceedings for binding an individual over to keep the peace or to be of good behaviour under Article 127 of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, and for dealing with an individual who fails to comply with an order under that Article,

(e)proceedings on an appeal brought by an individual under section 47A of the Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1980F55,

(f)proceedings for contempt committed, or alleged to have been committed, by an individual in the face of a court, and

(g)proceedings for dealing with an individual in respect of whom an application has been made under—

(i)Article 44 or 45 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989F56, or

(ii)paragraph 29 or 36 of Schedule 8 to the Terrorism Act 2000F57,

but do not include any proceedings for a writ of habeas corpus or other prerogative remedy.

[F54(h)proceedings under Part XIIIA of the Prison and Young Offenders Centre Rules (Northern Ireland) 1995 (No. 8).]

Grant of right to representation by courtN.I.

26.—(1) A court before which any relevant proceedings take place, or are to take place, has power to grant a right to representation in respect of those proceedings except in such circumstances as may be prescribed.

(2) Where a right to representation is granted for the purposes of relevant proceedings then, subject to paragraph (5)—

(a)it includes the right to representation for the purposes of any related bail proceedings, any related court-ordered youth conference, and any preliminary or incidental proceedings; and regulations may make provision specifying whether any proceedings are or are not to be regarded as preliminary or incidental; and

(b)it includes the right to such advice and assistance, as to any appeal, as may be prescribed.

(3) A court also has power to grant a right to representation for the purposes of relevant proceedings before another court in such circumstances as may be prescribed.

(4) A magistrates' court also has power to grant a right to representation for the purposes of a diversionary youth conference.

(5) A court has power to grant representation for a limited period, for the purposes of specified proceedings only or for the purposes of limited aspects of proceedings, and to vary or remove any limitation imposed on representation.

(6) Regulations may make provision—

(a)as to the form of any application for a grant of a right to representation under this Article;

(b)as to the information which must be supplied with any such application;

(c)as to the form of any grant of a right to representation under this Article;

(d)requiring the court granting a right to representation under this Article to indicate the grounds on which the right was granted.

(7) Before making any regulations under paragraph (6) the Lord Chancellor shall consult the Lord Chief Justice.

(8) The refusal of a right to representation before a hearing shall not prevent the applicant being granted a right to representation at the hearing.

(9) A right to representation in respect of proceedings may be withdrawn—

(a)by any court before which the proceedings take place, or

(b)in the case of a diversionary youth conference, by a magistrates' court;

and a court must consider whether to withdraw a right to representation in such circumstances as may be prescribed.

(10) In this Article “court” includes any body before which relevant proceedings take place.

Grant of right to representation by CommissionN.I.

27.—(1) Regulations may provide that the Commission shall have power to grant rights to representation in respect of any one or more of the descriptions of proceedings prescribed under Article 25(1)(d), and to withdraw any rights to representation granted by it.

(2) Regulations under paragraph (1) may provide that the Commission shall have power to grant representation for a limited period or for the purposes of specified proceedings only or for the purposes of limited aspects of proceedings, and to vary or remove any limitation imposed on representation.

(3) Regulations under paragraph (1) may make provision—

(a)as to the form of any application for a grant of a right to representation under those regulations;

(b)as to the information which must be supplied with any such application;

(c)as to the form of any grant of a right to representation under those regulations;

(d)requiring the Commission to indicate the grounds on which any right to representation is granted under those regulations.

AppealsN.I.

28.  Except where regulations otherwise provide, an appeal shall lie to such court or other person or body as may be prescribed against a decision—

(a)to refuse a right to representation in respect of relevant proceedings;

(b)to impose or vary a limitation on such a right;

(c)not to extend such a right; or

(d)to withdraw such a right.

Criteria for grant of right to representationN.I.

29.—(1) Any question as to whether a right to representation should be granted or extended, or whether a limitation on representation should be imposed, varied or removed, shall be determined according to the interests of justice.

(2) In deciding what the interests of justice consist of in relation to any individual, the following factors must be taken into account—

(a)whether the individual would, if any matter arising in the proceedings is decided against him, be likely to lose his liberty or livelihood or suffer serious damage to his reputation,

(b)whether the determination of any matter arising in the proceedings may involve consideration of a substantial question of law,

(c)whether the individual may be unable to understand the proceedings or to state his own case,

(d)whether the proceedings may involve the tracing, interviewing or expert cross-examination of witnesses on behalf of the individual, and

(e)whether it is in the interests of another person that the individual be represented.

(3) The Lord Chancellor may by order amend paragraph (2) by adding new factors or varying any factor.

(4) A right to representation shall always be granted in such circumstances as may be prescribed.

Selection of representativeN.I.

30.—(1) An individual who has been granted a right to representation in accordance with Articles 25 to 29 may, subject to Article 35, select any representative or representatives willing to act for him; and, where he does so, the Commission is to comply with the duty imposed by Article 24 by funding representation by the selected representative or representatives.

(2) Regulations may provide that in prescribed circumstances—

(a)the right conferred by paragraph (1) is not to apply in cases of prescribed descriptions,

(b)an individual who has been provided with advice or assistance funded by the Commission under Article 23 by a person whom he chose to provide it for him is to be taken to have selected that person as his representative pursuant to that right,

(c)that right is not to include a right to select a representative of a prescribed description,

(d)that right is to select only a registered person within the meaning of Article 36, or only a representative of a prescribed description,

(e)that right is to select not more than a prescribed number of representatives to act at any one time,

(f)that right is not to include a right to select a representative in place of a representative previously selected.

(3) Regulations under paragraph (2)(b) may prescribe circumstances in which an individual is to be taken to have chosen a person to provide advice or assistance for him.

(4) Regulations under paragraph (2) may not provide that only a person employed by the Commission, or by a body established and maintained by the Commission, may be selected.

(5) Regulations may provide that in prescribed circumstances the Commission is not required to fund, or to continue to fund, representation for an individual by a particular representative (but such provision shall not prejudice any right of the individual to select another representative).

(6) The circumstances which may be prescribed by regulations under paragraph (2) or (5) include that a determination has been made by a prescribed body or person.

(7) A representative who has been selected to act for an individual under this paragraph may select another person to act for that individual, as the agent of the representative, if that other person is of such a description that nothing in Article 35 would prohibit the individual selecting him as his representative.

Terms of provision of funded servicesN.I.

31.—(1) An individual for whom criminal defence services are funded by the Commission shall not be required to make any payment in respect of the services except where paragraph (2) applies.

(2) Where representation for an individual in respect of relevant proceedings in any court is funded by the Commission under Article 24, the court may, subject to regulations under paragraph (3), make an order requiring him to pay some or all of the cost of any representation so funded for him (in proceedings in that or any other court, or in any related court-ordered youth conference).

(3) Regulations may make provision about—

(a)the descriptions of courts by which, and individuals against whom, an order under paragraph (2) may be made,

(b)the circumstances in which such an order may be made and the principles to be applied in deciding whether to make such an order and the amount to be paid,

(c)the determination of the cost of representation for the purposes of the making of such an order,

(d)the furnishing of information and evidence to the court or the Commission for the purpose of enabling the court to decide whether to make such an order and (if so) the amount to be paid,

(e)prohibiting individuals who are required to furnish information or evidence from dealing with property until they have furnished the information or evidence or until a decision whether to make an order, or the amount to be paid, has been made,

(f)rights of appeal against such an order,

(g)the person or body to which, and manner in which, payments required by such an order must be made and what that person or body is to do with them, and

(h)the enforcement of such an order (including provision for the imposition of charges in respect of unpaid amounts).

SupplementaryN.I.

Restriction of disclosure of informationN.I.

32.—(1) Information which is furnished—

(a)to the [F58Department] or any court, tribunal or other person or body on whom functions are imposed or conferred by or under this Part, and

(b)in connection with the case of an individual seeking or receiving civil legal services or criminal defence services funded by the [F58Department] ,

shall not be disclosed except as permitted by regulations.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not limit the disclosure of—

(a)information in the form of a summary or collection of information so framed as not to enable information relating to any individual to be ascertained from it, or

(b)information about the amount of any grant, loan or other payment made to any person or body by the [F58Department] .

(3) Paragraph (1) does not prevent the disclosure of information for any purpose with the consent of the individual in connection with whose case it was furnished and, where he did not furnish it himself, with that of the person or body who did.

(4) A person who discloses any information in contravention of this Article shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(5) Proceedings for an offence under this Article shall not be brought except by or with the consent of the Attorney General.

(6) Nothing in this Article applies to information furnished to a person providing civil legal services or criminal defence services funded by the [F58Department] by or on behalf of an individual seeking or receiving such services.

Misrepresentation etc.N.I.

33.—(1) Any person who—

(a)intentionally fails to comply with any requirement imposed by virtue of this Part as to the information to be furnished by him, or

(b)in furnishing any information required by virtue of this Part makes any statement or representation which he knows or believes to be false,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) is liable on summary conviction to—

(a)a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale, or

(b)imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months,

or to both.

(3) Notwithstanding any statutory provision prescribing the period within which summary proceedings may be commenced, proceedings in respect of an offence under paragraph (1) may be commenced at any time within the period of six months beginning with the date on which evidence, sufficient in the opinion of the Attorney General to justify a prosecution for the offence, comes to his knowledge.

(4) But paragraph (3) does not authorise the commencement of proceedings for an offence at a time more than two years after the date on which the offence was committed.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (3) a certificate purporting to be signed by the Attorney General as to the date on which evidence such as is mentioned in that paragraph has come to his knowledge, shall be conclusive evidence thereof.

(6) A county court shall, notwithstanding any limitation imposed on the jurisdiction of a county court under any other statutory provision, have jurisdiction to hear and determine any action brought by the [F59Department] to recover loss sustained by reason of—

(a)the failure of any person to comply with any requirement imposed by virtue of this Part as to the information to be furnished by him, or

(b)a false statement or false representation made by any person in furnishing any information required by virtue of this Part.

Position of service providers and other parties etc.N.I.

34.—(1) Except as expressly provided by regulations, the fact that civil legal services or criminal defence services provided for an individual are or could be funded by the [F60Department] , shall not affect—

(a)the relationship between that individual and the person by whom they are provided or any privilege arising out of that relationship, or

(b)any right which that individual may have to be indemnified, in respect of expenses incurred by him, by any other person.

(2) A person who provides civil legal services or criminal defence services funded by the [F60Department] shall not take any payment in respect of the services apart from—

(a)that made by way of that funding, and

(b)any authorised by the [F60Department] to be taken.

(3) Where civil legal services funded by the [F60Department] are provided in connection with any proceedings, any expenses incurred in connection with the proceedings, so far as they would ordinarily be paid in the first instance by or on behalf of the person providing the services, shall be so paid except where they are paid by the [F60Department] .

(4) The withdrawal of a right to representation previously granted to an individual shall not affect the right of any person who has provided to him civil legal services or criminal defence services funded by the [F60Department] to remuneration for work done before the date of the withdrawal.

(5) Except as expressly provided by regulations, any rights conferred by or by virtue of this Part on an individual for whom civil legal services or criminal defence services are funded by the [F60Department] in relation to any proceedings shall not affect—

(a)the rights or liabilities of other parties to the proceedings, or

(b)the principles on which the discretion of any court or tribunal is normally exercised.

(6) Regulations may make provision about the procedure of any court or tribunal in relation to civil legal services or criminal defence services funded by the [F60Department] .

(7) Regulations made under paragraph (6) may in particular authorise the exercise of the functions of any court or tribunal by any member or officer of that or any other court or tribunal.

Solicitors and barristersN.I.

35.—(1) The [F61Department] shall not fund any civil legal services or criminal defence services provided by a solicitor who is for the time being prohibited from providing such services by an order under Article 51B(1) or (3) of the Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976F62.

(2) The [F61Department] shall not fund any civil legal services or criminal defence services provided by a barrister who is for the time being prohibited from providing such services by any determination of the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland, or by any determination of any such committee as may be established by that Council to determine charges preferred against barristers.

(3) The [F61Department] —

(a)may make a complaint to the Law Society about the provision of civil legal services or criminal defence services by a solicitor;

(b)may refer to the Law Society any complaint which is made to the [F61Department] about the provision of such services by a solicitor;

(c)may make a complaint to the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland about the provision of civil legal services or criminal defence services by a barrister; and

(d)may refer to the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland any complaint which is made to the [F61Department] about the provision of such services by a barrister.

(4) Any right conferred on an individual by virtue of this Part to select a person to provide civil legal services or criminal defence services for him shall not prejudice the law and practice relating to the conduct of proceedings by a solicitor or barrister or the circumstances in which a solicitor or counsel may refuse or give up a case or entrust it to another.

Register of persons providing servicesN.I.

36.—(1) Regulations may—

(a)make provision for the registration by the [F63Department] of persons who are eligible to provide civil legal services or criminal defence services funded by the [F63Department] ;

(b)provide that only those persons who are registered ( “registered persons”) may provide such services; and

(c)require registration of firms or organisations with which registered persons are connected.

(2) Regulations may require the [F63Department] to prepare a code of practice in relation to—

(a)the conditions to be complied with in order to qualify for registration, and

(b)the carrying out by registered persons, and any firm or organisation which is registered in connection with a registered person, of their functions with regard to civil legal services or criminal defence services funded by the [F63Department] .

(3) Regulations—

(a)may require registered persons, and any firm or organisation which is registered in connection with a registered person, to comply with any such code of practice;

(b)[F64may] require the [F63Department] or persons authorised by the [F63Department] to monitor compliance with any such code of practice; and

(c)may make provision about procedures for cases in which—

(i)it appears to the [F63Department] or a person authorised by the [F63Department] that a registered person, or any firm or organisation which is registered in connection with a registered person, may not be complying with any such code of practice, or

(ii)a person who holds any judicial office asks the [F63Department] to investigate whether a registered person, or any firm or organisation which is registered in connection with a registered person, is complying with any such code of practice,

and the sanctions which may be imposed under this sub-paragraph may include provision for a person, firm or organisation to cease to be registered.

(4) Regulations under this Article—

(a)may make provision imposing charges;

(b)may make provision with respect to the powers of investigation which may be exercised by the [F63Department] , or by persons authorised by the [F63Department] , for the purpose of monitoring compliance with any code of practice prepared under the regulations;

(c)may make provision for obstruction of the exercise of powers conferred by virtue of sub-paragraph (b) to be certified to the High Court in prescribed circumstances, and for any power of the court in relation to contempt of court to be exercisable in relation to such obstruction.

(5) Before making any regulations under this Article the Lord Chancellor—

(a)shall consult the Lord Chief Justice, the Law Society and the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland, and

(b)may undertake such other consultation as appears to him to be appropriate.