Notice is hereby given that the Lord Chancellor, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 22 and 27 of the Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, has made a Statutory Rule entitled:–

Legal Aid (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005–

These Rules, which come into operation on 5 December 2005, amend the Legal Aid (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1965 to insert references to the legal status of civil partners, as created by the provisions of the Civil Partnership Act 2004, to ensure an application for legal aid from any person who is in a civil partnership is determined in a manner consistent with the existing Regulations.

Copies of the Rules – Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland 2005 No. 474 may be obtained from The Stationery Office. 16 Arthur Street, BELFAST, BT1 4GD.