Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express serious concern about the response this House received yesterday from the Minister of Justice on key questions regarding the government's response to the Auditor General. Mr. Speaker, the report of the Auditor General of Canada on this government's 1990-91 financial statements pointed to several critical deficiencies in the administration of the legal aid system. This is an important issue, Mr. Speaker. In 1990-91, the legal aid system spent $4.6 million. Over the past five years, legal aid costs have increased by 112 per cent. Yet, the Auditor General of Canada reported that the Department of Justice was not able to produce accurate statistics, that controls were inadequate, and that statutory requirements for reporting to the House had not been met.

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts was extremely concerned about these shortcomings, Mr. Speaker, and commented on them in a report brought to this Assembly on June 25 and October 1, 1992. The Public Accounts Committee made three specific recommendations: to improve the department's computer information system; to establish appropriate eligibility criteria and means testing procedures; and, to develop a simply worded code of rights and responsibilities so that people could better understand the legal aid system.

I am shocked and dismayed by the way the Minister responded to yesterday's questions on whether his department has made progress. He did not know the answers, Mr. Speaker. To make matters worse, he stated that if we do not give him advance notice, we cannot expect him to know the answers to our questions. Mr. Speaker, this is an unacceptable response. This issue was highlighted by the Auditor General and serious concerns were brought to this House by the standing committee.

The department should be ashamed to find the sort of conditions that were reported to exist within the legal aid system. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue.