THE Island's Treasury Minister has said he is "concerned" with the amount of money being spent on legal aid.

Eddie Teare MHK has said he will review how the department maintains the present legal aid schemes next year.

He was responding to a written question posed by Onchan MHK Zac Hall in this week's sitting of the House of Keys.

Mr Hall asked Mr Teare to clarify how much his department spent on legal aid for criminal and civil cases in 2000/2001 and 2010/2011.

Figures revealed by the treasury show that £4,333,231 was spent on legal aid in the financial year 2010/2011.

£3,006,423 was spent on legal aid for criminal cases and £1,326,808 was spent on civil legal aid.

The treasury notes that £600,737 of expenditure in 2010/2011 is attributable to irrecoverable VAT.

Figures also show that the total amount spent on legal aid in the financial year of 2000/2001 was substantially lower at £753,150.

£380,720 was spent on legal aid for criminal cases and £372,430 was spent on civil legal aid.

Mr Hall also asked for a detailed breakdown on both types of legal aid including information about how much was spent on criminal aid for juveniles but was told this was not available.

Mr Teare said: "As Treasury Minister I am concerned with the increased level of expenditure incurred in maintaining the present legal aid schemes and it is an area in which I shall seek a review in the forthcoming year."

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