5.—(1) In section 19, after subsection (1) insert the following subsection—
“(1A) The Crown Court or the Court of Appeal may order that a person shall be given legal aid for the purpose of—
(a)an application for leave to appeal under Article 8(11) of the Criminal Justice (Serious Fraud) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 (appeals against orders or rulings at preparatory hearings); or
(b)of an appeal under that paragraph.”.
(2) At the end of section 31(1) (right of appeal to House of Lords) add the words “or Article 8 (preparatory hearings) of the Criminal Justice (Serious Fraud) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988”.
(3) In section 35 (bail on appeal by defendant) after the word “thereunder” insert the words “other than a person appealing or applying for leave to appeal from a decision on an appeal under Article 8(11) of the Criminal Justice (Serious Fraud) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 (appeals against orders or rulings at preparatory hearings),”.
(4) In section 38 (presence of defendant at hearing) after the word “who” insert the words “has been convicted of an offence and”.