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Scottish Court of Session Decisions
You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Scottish Court of Session Decisions >> GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL AGAINST THE SCOTTISH LEGAL AID BOARD AND PQ [2017] ScotCS CSOH_155 (22 December 2017)
URL: http://www.bailii.org/scot/cases/ScotCS/2017/[2017]_CSOH_155.html
Cite as: 2018 SLT 115, 2018 GWD 1-22, [2017] ScotCS CSOH_155, 2018 SCLR 496, [2017] CSOH 155
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OUTER HOUSE, COURT OF SESSION
[2017] CSOH 155
P284/17
OPINION OF LORD WOOLMAN
In the petition
GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL
against
THE SCOTTISH LEGAL AID BOARD
Petitioner
Respondent
and
PQ
Petitioner: Poole QC, Roxburgh; Glasgow City Council
Respondent: Crawford QC; Scottish Legal Aid Board
Third Party: I G Mitchell QC; Drummond Miller LLP
Third Party
22 December 2017
Introduction
[1] In 2016 PQ brought two petitions for judicial review. He challenged linked decisions
made by Glasgow City Council (“GCC”). Both related to the welfare rights of his mother.
Following a debate, Lord Boyd dismissed both petitions.
[2] PQ sought legal aid to appeal. The Scottish Legal Aid Board (“the Board”) initially
refused the application, but changed its mind after a review. GCC seeks to quash the
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decision to award legal aid. It contends that the application procedure was unlawful and
unreasonable, because it did not receive the information to which it was entitled. In
consequence it could not participate fully in the process.
[3] The Board (supported by PQ) maintains that it complied with its obligations. As PQ
refused to give consent to the disclosure of the information sought, its hands were tied by an
express statutory prohibition. Any disclosure to GCC might have resulted in criminal
sanctions.
Background
[4] PQ’s mother is elderly and infirm. For several years GCC has made direct payments
to fund daily care at her home. In 2010 she granted a power of attorney in PQ’s favour. Her
mental capacity has since deteriorated. He is therefore now responsible for her affairs. GCC
formally assessed her needs in 2010 and again in 2015. On both occasions, it decided that it
would be appropriate to transfer her to a residential establishment. GCC did not implement
those decisions, because of PQ’s views.
[5] PQ considers that it is in his mother’s best interests for her to continue to live at
home. He lodged two petitions for judicial review, one challenging each assessment.
judgment”). He concluded that the 2010 assessment was “wholly academic”, as it had been
superseded by the later assessment and would not revive (para 7). With regard to the
2015 assessment, he held that GCC had fulfilled its statutory duties. It had been carried out
by “an experienced social worker who, I was informed, is also qualified as a nurse”
(para 19).
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Application for Legal Aid
[6] PQ sought legal aid to reclaim the judgment. His solicitors sent various materials to
the Board in support of the application. They included a terse ‘statutory statement’. It
simply said that Lord Boyd had “erred in law in refusing judicial review”.
[7] On 4 November 2016, the Board notified GCC of the application and enclosed the
statutory statement. Two weeks later Richard Fisher, GCC’s legal manager, replied on its
behalf. He asked for more specification about the precise basis of the appeal. At the same
time he urged the Board to refuse legal aid. His representations were general in character.
He maintained that the judgment should be respected and that it was unreasonable for the
Board to make further public funds available to PQ. Mr Fisher agreed that the Board could
disclose GCC’s views to PQ.
[8] The Board initially refused to grant legal aid. Shortly after receiving notification of
the decision on 6 December 2016, PQ requested a review. On learning of the request,
Mr Fisher wrote to the Board. He asked for (a) sight of any additional information provided
by PQ; and (b) an opportunity to comment before the Board took a decision. By return it
acknowledged receipt of GCC’s “representations”. A week later, it wrote again to say that it
could not give further information without PQ’s consent. Mr Fisher replied that legal aid
had been granted for at least 12 similar petitions, none of which had been successful.
[9] On 7 February 2017, the Board told Mr Fisher that PQ had refused his consent. It
added:
“We have asked applicants on many occasions whether they are willing to
provide consent to disclose, and I am not aware of any situation where consent
has been provided, so the applicant’s approach is not unusual. This is not an
area in which we have any discretion.”
[10] Mr Fisher tried another route. On 9 February 2017, he wrote directly to PQ’s
solicitors. He asked them to seek their client’s consent to disclose any additional documents
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that had been lodged in support of the review. They did not respond. On 20 February 2017,
the Board reversed its decision and granted legal aid. It did not furnish GCC with reasons
for either decision.
Grounds of Appeal
[11] PQ lodged the grounds of appeal in the reclaiming motion after GCC commenced
these proceedings. They assert that the social worker who carried out the 2015 assessment
was not properly qualified. They also make claims relating to (i) the correct method of
calculating the benefit payments due to Mrs Q; and (ii) the validity of the 2010 assessment,
should the 2015 assessment be declared invalid.
[12] Mr Fisher was surprised when he saw them. He believes PQ’s assertions to be
incorrect. Had he known of them at the time, he would have sent detailed representations to
the Board. By way of illustration, GCC maintains that the 2015 assessor was properly
qualified. It has obtained a certificate from the Nursing and Midwifery Council to vouch
that claim. It argues that it should have been able to put this point to the Board for three
reasons. First, it bears upon probable cause and reasonableness. Second, it might have
avoided the upset caused to the employee in question. Third, it might have prevented PQ
persisting in his allegation that GCC misled the court on this point.
The Legal Aid Scheme
[13] Legal aid occupies a place of central importance in our system. It provides many
individuals with a bridge to justice. With the benefit of financial support from the legal aid
fund, they can obtain legal representation to ascertain and vindicate their rights. It enables
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them, for example, to challenge the acts of large companies and public authorities. That
promotes the rule of law.
[14] The legislative framework comprises the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 and the Civil
Legal Aid (Scotland) Regulations 2002 (respectively “the Act” and “the Regulations”).
Further guidance is provided in a booklet published by the Board: the SLAB Civil Handbook
(the “handbook”). I have also had the benefit of an affidavit from Ms Whyte, a senior Board
official, setting out the operation of the scheme in practice.
[15] The Board applies a tripartite test for civil legal aid: sections 14 and 15 of the Act.
Before making funds available, it must be satisfied that: (i) the applicant meets the financial
criteria, (ii) there is probable cause, and (iii) it is reasonable to provide support.
[16] The main features of the application procedure are as follows:
(a) Individuals provide materials to the Board on a confidential basis in
support of their signed application form. Typically, they will include
precognitions, documents vouching their financial status, and legal opinions.
(b) Applicants must also provide a statutory statement, which is one of the
three “essential elements” of the application. It should set out “the nature of
the case and the interest of the applicant”: Regulation 5(1)(b).
(c) Where applicants seek legal aid to mount an appeal, they must provide
the Board with a copy of the first instance judgment, together with a statement
of the grounds of appeal, and an opinion on the prospects of success: the
Handbook (para 4.91)
(d) The Board sends the statutory statement to opponents when notifying
them of the application. It invites them to make representations (normally
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within 14 days), which it considers before determining the application:
Regulation 7(1)(b)8.
(e) The Board asks opponents for their consent to disclose any such
representations, so that applicants get “an opportunity to tell us their side of
the story”. Some opponents edit their representations for this purpose.
(f) The Board decides what inquiries to carry out depending on the
individual circumstances. If an opponent issues a bare denial of the facts, it
will generally not investigate. But if an opponent raises an issue, or claims
that he has made a reasonable settlement offer, it may ask the applicant to
comment.
(g) If the applicant asks for a review after a refusal, he should specify any
matters which he wishes the Board to take into account, and provide any
further documents: Regulations 19 and 20.
[17] If the legal aid application succeeds and the case proceeds, a separate regime
comes into play in respect of expenses: sections 18 and 19 of the Act. The court may
modify the assisted person’s liability to pay any award made against him. In appeals,
it may make an award out of the legal aid fund to a successful unassisted party if
either (i) that party would otherwise suffer financial hardship, or (ii) it is just and
equitable in all the circumstances to pay the award out of public funds.
[18] The Board will withdraw legal aid if it is no longer satisfied that the relevant criteria
are met: Regulations 23 and 31. Applicants must (and opponents may) inform the Board of
any material change in circumstances.
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Fairness
[19] GCC seeks to quash the review decision. It contends that the Board infringed
various connected principles, including natural justice, procedural impropriety,
unlawfulness, unreasonableness and legitimate expectation. The filament of unfairness runs
through the wire of all its submissions. In essence, GCC argues that it could not properly
engage in the application procedure, because it did not have the relevant information.
[20] The principle of procedural fairness is embedded in our law. Over a century ago,
Lord Chancellor Loreburn stated that decision-making bodies “… must act in good faith and
fairly listen to both sides, for that is the duty lying upon everyone who decides anything.”:
“The principles of natural justice may be invoked in all cases where there is an
issue to be decided which affects the rights of the person who is entitled to be
heard by the decision maker”.
[21] Lord Mustill formulated six propositions in R v Secretary of State for the Home
Department, ex parte Doody [1994] 1 AC 531, 560D:
“(1) Where an Act of Parliament confers an administrative power there is a
presumption that it will be exercised in a manner which is fair in all the
circumstances. (2) The standards of fairness are not immutable. They may
change with the passage of time, both in the general and in their application to
decisions of a particular type. (3) The principles of fairness are not to be applied
by rote identically in every situation. What fairness demands is dependent on
the context of the decision, and this is to be taken into account in all its aspects.
(4) An essential feature of the context is the statute which creates the discretion,
as regards both its language and the shape of the legal and administrative system
within which the decision is taken. (5) Fairness will very often require that a
person who may be adversely affected by the decision will have an opportunity
to make representations on his own behalf either before the decision is taken
with a view to producing a favourable result; or after it is taken, with a view to
procuring its modification; or both. (6) Since the person affected usually cannot
make worthwhile representations without knowing what factors may weigh
against his interests, fairness will very often require that he is informed of the
gist of the case which he has to answer.”
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Is the Application Procedure Fair?
[22] The aim of the application procedure is to identify deserving candidates for legal aid.
Plainly the Board does not wish to support hopeless causes. Applicants and opponents (if
they engage in the procedure) are usually adversaries. One wishes to secure the grant of
legal aid, the other to prevent it.
[23] The legal aid scheme is carefully calibrated to take account of their respective
interests. Under the scheme the Board acts as a form of information portal. The parties
supply it with the necessary intelligence to enable it to apply the tripartite test. In the
absence of consent, however, it cannot share the information it receives from one party with
the other. In my view, there are three key aspects to the disclosure regime:
(1) confidentiality of the applicant’s information, (2) recognition of the interests of the
opponent, and (3) the key role played by the statutory statement. I shall deal with each in
turn.
Confidentiality
[24] Applicants would be naturally cautious about what they told the Board if they
thought it would automatically relay that information to opponents. The Act protects the
confidentiality of their communications with the Board. That has another benefit.
Applicants are more likely to set out all the details of their case, including any weakness, if
they are sure of the integrity of their exchanges.
[25] The wording of the relevant provision in the 1986 Act is unequivocal:
“Confidentiality of information”
34.(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, no information furnished for the
purposes of this Act to the Board or to any person acting on its behalf shall be
disclosed—
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(a) in the case of such information furnished by, or by any person
acting for, a person seeking or receiving legal aid or advice and
assistance, without the consent of the person seeking or receiving legal
aid or advice and assistance;
…
and any person who, in contravention of this subsection, discloses any
information obtained by him when employed by, or acting on behalf of, the
Board shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine
not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.”
[26] To try and circumvent that clear wording, GCC advances an argument based upon
section 34(2), which provides:
“(2) Subsection (1) above shall not apply to the disclosure of information—
(a) for the purpose of the proper performance or facilitating the
proper performance by the Secretary of State, the Board, any court or
tribunal or by any other person or body of duties or functions under this
Act …”
[27] The argument proceeds as follows. (1) The Board has a duty of fairness to
opponents. (2) In order to discharge that obligation, it requires to disclose relevant
information to GCC. (3) Disclosure facilitates the proper performance of that task.
[28] I reject GCC’s proposed construction. It overrides the clear wording of section 34(1).
Further, it would give rise to great uncertainty. Board employees would be placed in a
dilemma. They could not know whether passing information to an opponent might lead to
a criminal charge. Accordingly, the Board was entitled to refuse to supply the information
sought by GCC.
The interests of the opponent
[29] GCC had a clear interest in the application process. Despite being successful at first
instance, it has incurred significant expenses. It will not recoup those monies. Whether it
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recovers any of its expenses if the judgment is upheld is uncertain. It is a matter for the
court’s discretion.
[30] Put more broadly, a legal aid certificate is “a very valuable weapon in civil
proceedings”: R v Legal Aid Board [1998] PIQR 116, 121 per Scott Baker J. The other party
has to take that into account in determining its strategy in the litigation. GCC, for example,
would much prefer to allocate its resources to the provision of services, not to litigation.
[31] Giving GCC a voice in the procedure is not just a matter of fairness. It also has a
“instrumental value of enabling persons to participate in decision-making when they
may be able to contribute relevant information or to test other information before the
decision-maker, and the ethical value of allowing persons to participate in decision-
making which concerns them and is liable to have a significant effect on their rights
or interests, when they may have something to say which is relevant to the decision
to be taken.” (para 97)
[32] An opponent’s representations may greatly assist the Board in determining probable
cause and reasonableness.
The Statutory Statement
[33] The Handbook (para 1.10) declares that the statutory statement has a twofold purpose:
(a) to focus the Board’s attention “clearly on what exactly legal aid is sought for”; and (b) to
give sufficient notice to the opponent. It continues that:
“Another important aspect of the statutory statement is to allow an opportunity
for the possibility of extra-judicial resolution notwithstanding the application
for legal aid. The application process will continue as normal, but if intimation
of the statutory statement has the effect of causing the opponent to take steps to
resolve the matter, that may have an impact on the application, or the need for
legal aid, or if already granted, the continuance of legal aid.”
Did PQ comply with the Scheme
[34] PQ did not comply with that guidance. He did not give fair notice of the case to
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GCC. To do so would have presented no difficulty. He had to inform the Board about the
proposed grounds of appeal. Otherwise it could not have decided the application. He
should have given the same information to GCC. That would not have involved any breach
of confidentiality. If the relevant information was contained in a legal opinion that also
contained views about the prospects, PQ could have excerpted the relevant parts or redacted
the confidential parts.
[35] I wish to emphasise that fairness also applies at the review stage. That is because the
specific duties imposed on a decision-maker by legislation may be minimum requirements:
Pairc Crofters Ltd v The Scottish Ministers 2013 SLT 308, at paragraph 42 per Lord President
Gill. If new information comes to light, the decision-maker may have to notify the affected
party and give him an opportunity to make representations (at para 45). In my view that
applies here.
[36] Applicants who provide no detail of their case in the statutory statement and who
also decline to consent to the Board disclosing the relevant information to the opponent,
subvert the scheme. They make the application procedure opaque, instead of transparent.
They prevent opponents from active participation. That is unfair.
[37] I conclude that the Board should have told PQ that it was not prepared to consider
his application until he provided sufficient notice of the case to GCC. The Board has a
general power to do anything which it considers necessary or expedient for securing the
provision of legal aid: section 2 of the Act. It can specify the form of initial and review
applications: Regulations 5 and 20.
[38] The Board relied on Fife Regional Council v Scottish Legal Aid Board 1994 SLT 96, where
Lord Cameron of Lochbroom held that the statutory statement:
“… contained sufficient information in the case of an application for legal aid for an
appeal to enable the petitioners to identify the nature of the case and the interest of
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the applicant therein. It was clear on its face that the purpose of seeking grant of
legal aid was to enable the applicant to challenge the sheriff’s judgment on appeal in
relation to the action originally raised by the applicant and heard by him. The
petitioners were in possession of the sheriff’s judgment. They had knowledge of its
terms and its conclusions on those facts and law. They were fully apprised of the
history of the case. There is no requirement in the provisions of reg 5 that the
statement itself should contain specific and detailed grounds of appeal.” (page 99)
[39] I distinguish that case on the ground that GCC did not know all the issues in
controversy. Further, it could not have inferred them, even by applying a “mosaic”
approach to the items of information that it did know. If I am wrong and Fife Regional
Council cannot be distinguished, I respectfully consider that it is no longer good law. It is out
of kilter with the trend toward greater transparency.
The Board’s Concerns
[40] The Board is rightly concerned to avoid its procedures becoming more legalistic. In
particular it is anxious about: (a) having to allocate more of its limited resources to
administration, (b) adjudicating upon any disputed issues of fact and law, and (c) becoming
entangled in “satellite litigation”.
[41] I have carefully considered these concerns, but believe that they are more apparent
than real. The Board must decide the issues of probable cause and reasonableness in every
case. How it goes about its task will largely be a matter for it to determine. It can decide
what inquiries to carry out, what factors to take into account and what reasons to give. In
other words, there is a margin of tolerance.
Reasons
[42] A public body has no general duty to give reasons for its decisions, although it is
now more common: Lord Mustill in Doody at 564H. I agree that “the prudent course is to
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give such reasons” as it can: R v Legal Aid Board [1998] PIQR P116 at P125. Given the
Board’s duty of confidentiality, it may be limited in what it can say in an individual case. As
“the extent and substance of the reasons must depend upon the circumstances.
They need not be elaborate nor lengthy, but they should be such as to tell the
parties in broad terms why the decision was reached.”
ECHR
[43] GCC stated that if the court accepted its common law submissions, there was no
need to consider ECHR. Standing my decision, I shall only dwell on it briefly.
[44] GCC focussed on section 3(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998, which states:
“So far as it is possible to do so, primary legislation and subordinate legislation
must be read and given effect in a way which is compatible with Convention
rights.”
[45] GCC is not itself a victim within the meaning of ECHR Article 34, as it is not a
“person, non-governmental organisation or group of individuals”. Accordingly, it does not
have Convention rights. It argues, however, that other opponents will have Article 1,
Protocol 1 rights and the legal aid legislation should receive a consistent interpretation.
[46] I reject the ECHR argument for three reasons. First, I am not persuaded that the
grant of legal aid constitutes an interference with an individual’s possessions, contrary
to A1P1. The risk of irrecoverable expenses applies in all litigation. Second, if I am wrong
on that point, then I hold that any such interference is in accordance with law, justified,
proportionate and in the public interest. It is a matter of key importance that legal aid
should be made available to deserving persons. Third, short of a declaration of
incompatibility (which is not sought), I do not see how reference to ECHR produces a
different interpretation of the relevant legislation.
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The Name on the Certificate
[47] GCC contends that the Board should have granted legal aid to PQ (not to his
mother), as she lacks capacity. I disagree. He is using the power of attorney to conduct the
litigation on her behalf and in her interests. It seems unduly formalistic to require the Board
to endorse the legal aid certificate to note his interest as her representative.
Conclusion
[48] I shall grant paragraph 4.1 of the prayer of the petition and reduce the decisions to
grant legal aid.