25Legal aid in appeals
(1)This section shall apply to criminal legal aid in connection with an appeal against conviction, sentence or acquittal in criminal proceedings.
(2)Subject to regulations made under section 21(2) of this Act criminal legal aid to which this section applies shall be available on an application made to the Board if the Board is satisfied—
(a)subject to subsection (4) below, after consideration of the financial circumstances of the applicant, that the expenses of the appeal cannot be met without undue hardship to the applicant or his dependants; and
(b)where the applicant is the appellant, that he has substantial grounds for making the appeal and that it is reasonable, in the particular circumstances of the case, that legal aid should be made available to him.
(3)The Board may require a person receiving criminal legal aid under this section to comply with such conditions as it considers expedient to enable it to satisfy itself from time to time that it is reasonable for him to continue to receive criminal legal aid.
(4)Subsection (2) (a) above does not apply where criminal legal aid was made available under section 23 or 24 of this Act in connection with the proceedings in respect of which the appeal is being made.
(5)Subsections (2) to (4) above shall apply in relation to an application for criminal legal aid in connection with—
(a)a petition to the nobile officium of the High Court of Justiciary (whether arising in the course of any proceedings or otherwise); or
(b)a reference by the Secretary of State under section 263 of the [1975 c. 21.] Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975,
as they apply for the purposes of subsection (1) above.