Legal aid payouts fall to 10-year low
The amount of legal aid paid out last year was the lowest total in the last 10 year.
Treasury figures released in response to a Freedom of Information request showed just under £1.7m was paid by the Government towards legal fees.
The total was almost £550,000 less than in the 2015-16 financial year and less than half the cost of 2011-12, which was the highest in the last decade.
The majority of the total - almost £1.1m - went on cases where full legal aid was granted, while just under £425,000 went towards funding the police duty advocate.
The rest was split between green form criminal cases - where a person received initial legal advice or quick resolutions - and court duty advocates.
Just over £24m has been paid out in legal aid over the last 10 years.