3.—(1) There shall be a body known as the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission (in this Order referred to as “the Commission”).
(2) The Commission shall have such functions as are conferred or imposed on it by the provisions of this Order or any other statutory provision.
(3) The Commission shall exercise its functions 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 of 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.
(4) Schedule 1 (which makes further provision about the Commission) has effect.
4.—(1) The Commission shall consist of—
(a)a member who is to chair it, and
(b)not fewer than six, nor more than ten, other members,
but the Lord Chancellor may by order substitute for either or both of the numbers for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (b) such other number or numbers as he thinks appropriate.
(2) Both the member who is to chair the Commission, and the other members, shall be appointed by the Lord Chancellor.
(3) In appointing persons to be members of the Commission the Lord Chancellor shall have regard to the desirability of securing that the Commission includes members who (between them) have experience in or knowledge of—
(a)the provision of services which the Commission can fund as civil legal services or criminal defence services,
(b)the work of the courts,
(c)consumer affairs,
(d)social conditions, and
(e)management.
(4) The Lord Chancellor may by order amend paragraph (3) by adding, omitting or substituting areas of experience or knowledge.
(5) In making appointments under this Article, the Lord Chancellor shall as far as practicable secure that the members of the Commission, as a group, are representative of the Community in Northern Ireland.
5.—(1) The Lord Chancellor may by order establish in place of the Commission two bodies—
(a)one to have functions relating to civil legal services, and
(b)the other to have functions relating to criminal defence services.
(2) An order under paragraph (1) shall include amendments of—
(a)any provisions of, or amended by, this Order which refer to the Commission, and
(b)any other statutory provisions which so refer,
to replace references to the Commission with references to either or both of the bodies established by the order.
6.—(1) The Commission 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) The Commission shall plan what can be done towards meeting that need by the performance by the Commission of its functions.
(3) The Commission 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.
(4) The Commission shall notify the Lord Chancellor of what it has done under this Article.
(5) The Lord Chancellor may by order require the Commission to discharge the functions in paragraphs (1) to (4) in accordance with the order.
7.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part, the Commission may do anything which it considers—
(a)is necessary or appropriate for, or for facilitating, the discharge of its functions, or
(b)is incidental or conducive to the discharge of its functions.
(2) In particular, the Commission shall have power—
(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 its functions,
(f)to undertake any inquiry or investigation which it may consider appropriate in relation to the discharge of any of its functions, and
(g)to give to the Lord Chancellor any advice which it may consider appropriate in relation to matters concerning any of its functions.
(3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not confer on the Commission power to borrow money.
(4) The Commission may make such arrangements as it considers appropriate for the discharge of its functions, including the delegation of any of its functions.
(5) The Lord Chancellor may by order require the Commission—
(a)to delegate any function specified in the order or to delegate any function so specified to a person (or person of a description) so specified,
(b)not to delegate any function so specified or not to delegate any function so specified to a person (or person of a description) so specified, or
(c)to make arrangements such as are specified in the order in relation to the delegation of any function so specified.
(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 Commission 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 Commission 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 fee payable, otherwise in accordance with this order, in respect of the provision of such services.
8.—(1) The Lord Chancellor may give guidance to the Commission as to the manner in which he considers it should discharge its functions.
(2) The Commission shall take into account any such guidance when considering the manner in which it is to discharge its functions.
(3) Guidance may not be given under this Article in relation to individual cases.
(4) The Lord Chancellor shall either—
(a)publish, or
(b)require the Commission to publish,
any guidance given under this Article.
9.—(1) The Commission 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 Commission.
(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.
10.—(1) For the purposes of this Order “civil legal services” means advice, assistance and representation, other than advice, assistance or representation which the Commission is required to fund as criminal defence services.
(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 Commission 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.
11.—(1) The Commission shall establish and maintain a fund from which it shall fund civil legal services.
(2) The Lord Chancellor—
(a)shall pay to the Commission the sums which he determines are appropriate for the funding of civil legal services by the Commission, and
(b)may determine the manner in which and times at which the sums are to be paid to the Commission and may impose conditions on the payment of the sums.
(3) In making any determination under paragraph (2) the Lord Chancellor shall take into account (in addition to such other factors as he considers relevant) the need for civil legal services as notified to him by the Commission under Article 6(4).
(4) The Lord Chancellor shall lay before each House of Parliament a copy of every determination under paragraph (2)(a).
(5) In funding civil legal services the Commission shall aim to obtain the best possible value for money.
(6) Subject to regulations, 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 regulations under Articles 17 and 20,
(c)sums received by the Commission by virtue of an order by a court under Article 19(7), and
(d)such other receipts of the Commission as the Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Treasury, determine.
(7) The Lord Chancellor—
(a)may by direction impose requirements on the Commission as to the descriptions of services to be funded from any specified amount paid into the fund established under paragraph (1);
(b)may by order require the Commission to establish and maintain two funds in place of the fund established under paragraph (1), being—
(i)a fund from which the Commission shall fund civil legal services in connection with any such matter as is specified in the order, and
(ii)a fund from which the Commission shall fund other civil legal services.
(8) An order under paragraph (7)(b) may make such amendments to this Order as the Lord Chancellor considers appropriate in consequence of the establishment of two funds in place of the fund established under paragraph (1).
12.—(1) The Commission shall set priorities in its funding of civil legal services, and the priorities shall be set—
(a)in accordance with any directions given by the Lord Chancellor, and
(b)after taking into account the need for such services.
(2) The Commission 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.
(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 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) The Commission 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, Articles 14(2)(b), (5) and (6), and the words “advice, assistance and” in Article 10(1), shall not have effect.
(8) The Lord Chancellor—
(a)may by direction require the Commission to fund the provision of any of the services specified in Schedule 2 in circumstances specified in the direction, and
(b)may authorise the Commission to fund the provision of any of those services in circumstances specified in the authorisation or, if the Commission requests him to do so, in an individual case so specified.
(9) A direction or authorisation under paragraph (8) may impose limitations on the funding of a service specified in Schedule 2, and may, in particular, require or authorise the Commission to fund the service for a limited period, for the purposes of specified proceedings only, or for the purposes of limited aspects of proceedings.
(10) Articles 13 to 20 do not apply to civil legal services funded under a direction or authorisation under paragraph (8) unless they are applied (with or without modifications) by the provisions of the direction or authorisation.
(11) The Lord Chancellor shall either—
(a)publish, or
(b)require the Commission to publish,
any authorisation under paragraph (8)(b), unless it relates to an individual case (in which case he or the Commission may publish it if appropriate).
13.—(1) The Commission may only fund civil legal services for an individual if his financial resources are such that, under regulations, he is an individual for whom they may be so funded.
(2) Regulations may provide that, in prescribed circumstances and subject to any prescribed conditions, services of a prescribed description may be so funded for individuals without reference to their financial resources.
(3) Regulations under this Article may include provision requiring the furnishing of information.
14.—(1) The services which the Commission may fund as civil legal services are those which the Commission 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 Commission, 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.
(3) The Commission 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.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (3), 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 Commission.
(5) Regulations may—
(a)prohibit the giving of advice or assistance without the approval of the Commission 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 Commission except where it is provided by a person in pursuance of a contract made with the Commission.
(6) Advice and assistance in connection with any proceedings shall not be funded for an individual as civil legal services at a time when he has been granted a right to representation in respect of those proceedings under any provision of this Part.
15.—(1) The Commission shall prepare a code setting out the criteria according to which any decision is to be taken as to—
(a)whether to fund (or continue to fund) civil legal services for an individual for whom they may be so funded, and
(b)if so, what services are to be funded for him.
(2) In settling the criteria to be set out in the code the Commission shall consider the extent to which they ought to reflect the following factors—
(a)the likely cost of funding the services and the benefit which may be obtained by their being provided,
(b)the availability of sums in the fund established under Article 11(1) for funding civil legal services and (having regard to present and likely future demands on that fund) the appropriateness of applying them to fund the services,
(c)the importance of the matters in relation to which the services would be provided for the individual,
(d)the availability to the individual of services not funded by the Commission and the likelihood of his being able to avail himself of them,
(e)if the services are sought by the individual in relation to a dispute, the prospects of his success in the dispute,
(f)the conduct of the individual in connection with civil legal services funded by the Commission (or an application for funding) or in, or in connection with, any proceedings,
(g)the public interest, and
(h)such other factors as the Lord Chancellor may by order require the Commission to consider.
(3) The code shall seek to secure that, where more than one description of service is available, the service funded is that which (in all the circumstances) is the most appropriate having regard to the criteria set out in the code.
(4) The code shall also specify procedures for the making of decisions about the funding of civil legal services by the Commission, 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 appeals against decisions about funding and for the giving of information about those procedures.
(5) The Commission may from time to time prepare a revised version of the code.
(6) Before preparing the code the Commission shall undertake such consultation as appears to it to be appropriate; and before revising the code the Commission shall undertake such consultation as appears to it to be appropriate unless it considers that it is desirable for the revised version to come into force without delay.
(7) The Lord Chancellor may by order require the Commission to discharge its functions relating to the code in accordance with the order.
16.—(1) After preparing the code or a revised version of the code, the Commission shall send a copy to the Lord Chancellor.
(2) If he approves it he shall lay it before each House of Parliament.
(3) 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.
(4) The code as first approved by the Lord Chancellor shall not come into force until it has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
(5) A revised version of the code which does not contain changes in the criteria set out in the code shall not come into force until it has been laid before each House of Parliament.
(6) Subject as follows, a revised version of the code which does contain such changes shall not come into force until it has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
(7) Where the Lord Chancellor considers that it is desirable for a revised version of the code containing such changes to come into force without delay, he may (when laying the revised version before Parliament) also lay before each House a statement of his reasons for so considering.
(8) In that event the revised version of the code—
(a)shall not come into force until it has been laid before each House of Parliament, and
(b)shall cease to have effect at the end of the period of 120 days beginning with the day on which it comes into force unless a resolution approving it has been made by each House (but without that affecting anything previously done in accordance with it).
17.—(1) An individual for whom civil legal services are funded by the Commission 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 Commission 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 Commission for an individual, sums expended by the Commission 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 Commission or the body or person by whom the services were provided, and
(b)provision about its enforcement.
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 Commission.
(2) In assessing for the purposes of paragraph (1) the financial resources of an individual for whom civil legal services are funded by the Commission, 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.
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 Commission, 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 Commission 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 Commission 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 Commission 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;
(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 Commission 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.
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 Commission.
(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 Commission,
(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 Commission of the whole or part of any costs incurred by a party for whom civil legal services are not funded by the Commission,
(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 Commission,
(f)requiring the payment to the Commission, 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.
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 32,
(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) 1968(1), and
(d)such other receipts of the Commission as the Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Treasury, determine.
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.a
(2) The code shall include—
(a)duties imposed in accordance with any scheme made by the Commission under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998(2),
(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 each House of Parliament.
(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 each House of Parliament.
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,
(b)in prescribed circumstances, for individuals who—
(i)are not within sub-paragraph (a) but are involved in investigations which may lead to criminal proceedings or detention 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.
24.—(1) The Commission shall fund representation to which an individual has been granted a right in accordance with Article 26 or 27.
(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, and
(b)may by order make any other provision requiring the Commission to discharge the function in paragraph (2) in accordance with the order.
(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.
25. A right to representation may be granted—
(a)for the purposes of any kind of criminal proceedings, to an individual such as is mentioned in relation to that kind of proceedings in Article 2(4);
(b)to an individual for the purposes of enabling him to resist an appeal in criminal proceedings otherwise than in an official capacity;
(c)for the purposes of any detention proceedings, as defined in paragraph (5) of Article 2, to an individual such as is mentioned in that paragraph,
and in this Order proceedings mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) are referred to as “relevant proceedings”.
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 (4)—
(a)it includes the right to representation for the purposes of any related bail proceedings 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 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.
(5) 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.
(6) The refusal of a right to representation before a hearing shall not prevent the applicant being granted a right to representation at the hearing.
(7) A right to representation in respect of proceedings may be withdrawn by any court before which the proceedings take place; and a court must consider whether to withdraw a right to representation in such circumstances as may be prescribed.
(8) In this Article “court” includes any body before which relevant proceedings take place.
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 2(4)(g), 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.
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.
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.
30.—(1) An individual who has been granted a right to representation in accordance with Article 26 or 27 may, in accordance with any determination of the Commission under paragraph (2) and subject to Article 36, 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) The Commission may, in accordance with paragraph (3) and regulations under paragraph (4), limit the right conferred on an individual by paragraph (1); and regulations may make provision—
(a)as to the circumstances in which the Commission may make a determination under this paragraph; and
(b)as to the procedure for the making of a determination under this paragraph.
(3) A determination under paragraph (2) may—
(a)specify the maximum number of representatives who may be selected by the individual; and
(b)require the individual to select a representative who is a member of such profession as may be specified in the determination, and has such standing, qualifications or experience as may be so specified.
(4) 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 37, 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.
(5) Regulations under paragraph (4)(b) may prescribe circumstances in which an individual is to be taken to have chosen a person to provide advice or assistance for him.
(6) Regulations under paragraph (4) may not provide that only a person employed by the Commission, or by a body established and maintained by the Commission, may be selected.
(7) 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).
(8) The circumstances which may be prescribed by regulations under paragraph (4) or (7) include that a determination has been made by a prescribed body or person.
(9) 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 36 would prohibit the individual selecting him as his representative.
31.—(1) Regulations shall make provision for the review, in prescribed circumstances, of determinations by the Commission under Article 30(2).
(2) Regulations shall make provision—
(a)for rights of appeal against decisions taken on reviews under regulations made under paragraph (1);
(b)for such appeals to be determined by persons (“adjudicators”) appointed for the purpose by the Lord Chancellor.
(3) Regulations shall make provision—
(a)for the procedures for such appeals;
(b)for the giving of information about such procedures;
(c)as to the form of any such appeal, and the information which must be supplied with any such appeal;
(d)as to the form of any notice of the determination of any such appeal.
(4) The regulations may include provision—
(a)requiring adjudicators to be members of the Law Society, members of the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland, or members of such other bodies, which provide, or whose members provide, criminal defence services, as may be prescribed;
(b)for adjudicators to be appointed as members of a body having responsibility (in accordance with the regulations) for dealing with appeals;
(c)for the appointment by the Lord Chancellor of one of the members of that body to be its chairman;
(d)for prescribed functions in relation to appeals or adjudicators to be conferred on the Commission, or employees of the Commission.
(5) Any person appointed under this Article by the Lord Chancellor —
(a)shall be appointed on such terms and conditions as the Lord Chancellor considers appropriate; but
(b)shall not be regarded as having been appointed to exercise functions of the Lord Chancellor or to act on his behalf.
(6) No decision taken by an adjudicator shall be regarded as having been taken by, or on behalf of, the Lord Chancellor.
(7) The Lord Chancellor may at any time remove a person from office as an adjudicator if satisfied that—
(a)he has become bankrupt or made a composition or arrangement with his creditors,
(b)he is unable to carry out his duties by reason of illness,
(c)he has been convicted of a criminal offence, or
(d)he is otherwise unable or unfit to perform his duties.
(8) The regulations may include provision for the Commission—
(a)to maintain and publish a register of persons who are eligible for appointment as adjudicators;
(b)to reimburse adjudicators, to such extent as may be prescribed, for any expenses or loss of earnings.
32.—(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).
(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).
33.—(1) Information which is furnished—
(a)to the Commission 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 Commission,
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 Commission.
(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 Commission by or on behalf of an individual seeking or receiving such services.
34.—(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 Commission 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.
35.—(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 Commission, 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 Commission 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 Commission to be taken.
(3) Where civil legal services funded by the Commission 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 Commission.
(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 Commission 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 Commission 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 Commission.
(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.
36.—(1) The Commission 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 1976(3).
(2) The Commission shall not fund any civil legal services or criminal defence services provided by a barrister if it determines that, arising out of his conduct when providing or selected to provide such services or his professional conduct generally, there is good reason for refusing, temporarily or permanently, to fund such services provided by him.
(3) Where a barrister is aggrieved by any determination of the Commission under paragraph (2), he may appeal against the decision to the High Court, and the High Court (whose decision shall be final) may confirm or quash the decision appealed against or may substitute such decision as the court thinks fit.
(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.
37.—(1) Regulations may—
(a)make provision for the registration by the Commission of persons who are eligible to provide civil legal services or criminal defence services funded by the Commission;
(b)provide that only those persons who are registered (“registered persons”) may provide such services; and
(c)may require registration of firms or organisations with which registered persons are connected.
(2) Regulations may require the Commission 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 services such as are mentioned in paragraph (1)(a).
(3) Regulations may—
(a)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)require the Commission or persons authorised by the Commission to monitor compliance with any such code of practice;
(c)make provision about procedures for cases in which—
(i)it appears to the Commission or a person authorised by the Commission 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 Commission 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 by provision 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 Commission, and by persons authorised by the Commission, 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.