The Civil Legal Aid (General) Regulations 1989

Power to revoke or discharge for abuse of legal aid

78.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Area Director may revoke or discharge a certificate where, as a result of information which has come to his knowledge, whether by a reference from the court under regulation 68 or otherwise, it appears to the Area Director that the assisted person has–

(a) in relation to any application for a certificate, made an untrue statement as to his financial resources or has failed to disclose any material fact concerning them, whether the statement was made or the failure occurred before or after the issue of the certificate and notwithstanding that it was made or occurred in relation to an application to another area office in connection with the same proceedings; or

(b) intentionally failed to comply with these Regulations by not furnishing to the Area Director or the solicitor any material information concerning any matter other than his financial resources; or

(c) knowingly made an untrue statement in furnishing such information.

(2) No certificate shall be revoked or discharged under paragraph (1) by reason of any such mis-statement or failure as is referred to in paragraph (1)(a) if the assisted person satisfies the Area Director that he used due care or diligence to avoid such mis-statement or failure.