Written Reply by Minister for Law Mr Edwin Tong SC on Data on Applicants Reviewed by Legal Aid Bureau Means Test Panel and Successful Legal Aid Grants Since 2024 Criteria Review

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng (Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC)

Question
To ask the Minister for Law since the 2024 review of Legal Aid Bureau means test criteria (a) how many applicants who failed the means test were reviewed by a Means Test Panel; and (b) how many were granted legal aid after the review.

Written Answer by Minister Edwin Tong SC:

1. Under the updated means test criteria following the 2024 review, seventeen civil legal aid applicants who failed the means test were reviewed by the Means Test Panel. All seventeen had the means test requirements waived in consideration of their respective extenuating circumstances. Of these, five applicants eventually received civil legal aid and two applicants’ cases are pending, while the remaining ten applicants eventually did not proceed with their cases.

Last updated on 3 November 2026