s 7 Power of Director to make inquiries
7. Where an application is made for legal aid, the Director may —(a) make any inquiries that the Director thinks fit as to the means and condition of the applicant and as to the merits of the case; (b) require the applicant to furnish such information and such documents as the Director may require for the purpose of considering the application; (c) require the applicant to attend personally; (d) refer the application or any matter arising out of the application to any solicitor whose name is on the appropriate panel maintained pursuant to section 4 to investigate the facts and make a report on the application or to give any opinion on the application or on any question of law arising out of the application; (e) take or cause to be taken such steps as may be necessary to conserve the interests of the applicant pending determination of the application; and (f) defray expenses incidental to any of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (e) out of any funds in the Director’s control which are available for the purpose.