The following table shows the total number of new cases taken on by the PDSO (whether or not under direction) in each year since it opened and the percentage this represents of the total number of acts of criminal legal assistance in each of those years. Criminal legal assistance includes grants of advice andassistance, assistance by way of representation, summary criminal legal aid andsolemn legal aid, as well as clients represented by duty solicitors. 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 Number of new PDSO cases* 417 1034 1456* 1684* 1538* 1464* Number of acts of criminal legal assistance 222,348 245,844 260,367 270,162 271,769 278,151 PDSO cases as % of acts of assistance 0.2% 0.4% 0.6% 0.6% 0.6% 0.5% Note: *These figures include cases in which the PDSO acted as duty solicitor on behalf of other solicitors.