Part 4Legal aid
71Availability of civil legal aid for defamation or verbal injury
1
The 1986 Act is amended as follows.
2
In section 14 (availability of civil legal aid), after subsection (1B) insert—
1C
In the case of proceedings described in paragraph 1 of Part II of Schedule 2 to this Act, civil legal aid shall be available to a person only if, in addition to the requirements which have to be met under subsection (1) and section 15 of this Act and subject to paragraph 2 of Part II of Schedule 2, such criteria as may be set out by the Scottish Ministers in directions given to the Board are met.
1D
A direction given under subsection (1C) may—
a
include criteria in respect of which the Board may require to satisfy itself;
b
make different provision for different purposes;
c
be varied or revoked at any time.
1E
Where the Scottish Ministers give a direction under subsection (1C)—
a
the Board must comply with it;
b
the Scottish Ministers must arrange for the direction to be published in such manner as they consider appropriate.
3
In Part II of Schedule 2 (excepted proceedings)—
a
in paragraph 1, after “to” insert “
section 14(1C) and
”
;
b
in paragraph 2, the words “, and legal” to the end are repealed.