Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many migrants who arrived illegally have been given legal aid funded from the public purse in the last five years; and what the cost is of that legal aid.

The requested information is not centrally held. Where proceedings are before a court or tribunal in England or Wales, legal aid is available to individuals who qualify for services irrespective of their immigration status or method of entry into England and Wales. Method of entry to England or Wales is not relevant to eligibility for legal aid under the current rules.

Generally, applications for legal aid will be subject to an assessment of the merits of the case and the financial circumstances of the applicant.