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1693889
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2024-03-05more like thismore than 2024-03-05
star this property answering body
Ministry of Justice more like this
star this property answering dept id 54 remove filter
star this property answering dept short name Justice more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Justice more like this
star this property hansard heading Criminal Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of the High Court judgement on the Law Society’s judicial review against the Ministry of Justice, [2024] EWHC 155 (Admin), handed down on 31 January 2024. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Orkney and Shetland more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Mr Alistair Carmichael more like this
star this property uin 17082 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2024-03-11more like thismore than 2024-03-11
unstar this property answer text <p>I refer the right honourable Member to the answer I gave on 20 February to Question <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-02-20/14863" target="_blank">14863</a></p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green more like this
star this property answering member printed Mike Freer more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2024-03-11T17:00:39.023Zmore like thismore than 2024-03-11T17:00:39.023Z
star this property answering member
4004
star this property label Biography information for Mike Freer more like this
star this property tabling member
1442
unstar this property label Biography information for Mr Alistair Carmichael more like this
1690408
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2024-02-20more like thismore than 2024-02-20
star this property answering body
Ministry of Justice more like this
star this property answering dept id 54 remove filter
star this property answering dept short name Justice more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Justice more like this
star this property hansard heading Criminal Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to legal aid in criminal cases and what criteria his Department uses to make that assessment. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Stockton North more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Alex Cunningham more like this
star this property uin 14862 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2024-02-23more like thismore than 2024-02-23
unstar this property answer text <p>The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is responsible for commissioning legal aid services in England and Wales. The LAA manages capacity in a number of ways. The LAA’s network of regional contract managers located throughout England and Wales provide intelligence-led information based on contact with legal aid service providers.</p><p>In addition, the LAA frequently reviews market capacity, including the number of duty solicitors on each local duty scheme, to make sure there is adequate access to legal aid services throughout England and Wales. The LAA shares information about provider capacity to support policy development via a number of fora, including via the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board (CLAAB).</p><p>The LAA moves quickly, where issues arise, taking operational actions within its control to secure additional provision and to ensure continuity of legal aid services.</p><p>Provision under the duty scheme is demand led based on the individual factors for each local duty scheme and the needs of local courts and police. Anyone who is arrested and interviewed by the police is offered a duty solicitor irrespective of their financial means. Effective coverage is achieved where all duty schemes have a sufficient number of duty solicitors to cover the available rota slots. The LAA has arrangements in place to ensure all duty rotas have cover 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.</p><p>Information about the number of legal aid providers contracted to provide services, as well as details of numbers of duty solicitors across all schemes, are published as part of the LAA’s statistics at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-january-to-march-2023/legal-aid-statistics-england-and-wales-bulletin-jan-to-mar-2023#legal-aid-providers" target="_blank">Legal aid statistics England and Wales bulletin Jan to Mar 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>. These statistics are used by the LAA as management information to monitor the availability of legal aid services over time, in different areas of law and different regions of England and Wales.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green more like this
star this property answering member printed Mike Freer more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2024-02-23T11:36:45.363Zmore like thismore than 2024-02-23T11:36:45.363Z
star this property answering member
4004
star this property label Biography information for Mike Freer more like this
star this property tabling member
4122
unstar this property label Biography information for Alex Cunningham more like this
1657059
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2023-09-01more like thismore than 2023-09-01
star this property answering body
Ministry of Justice more like this
star this property answering dept id 54 remove filter
star this property answering dept short name Justice more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Justice more like this
star this property hansard heading Criminal Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is his Department's policy to uprate criminal legal aid fees for (a) police stations, (b) Magistrates' Courts and (c) Youth Court fee schemes by 15%. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Lewisham East more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Janet Daby more like this
star this property uin 196703 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2023-09-11more like thismore than 2023-09-11
unstar this property answer text <p>In September 2022 we increased most legal aid fee schemes by 15%, including the police station scheme and the magistrates’ court scheme, which includes youth court work.</p><p> </p><p>We are investing a further £16m into the police station scheme over 2024-25, and a further £5m (in steady state) towards the Youth Court reforms.</p><p> </p><p>Our full set of proposals will mean we expect to invest up to an additional £141m per year.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green more like this
star this property answering member printed Mike Freer more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2023-09-11T14:32:30.4Zmore like thismore than 2023-09-11T14:32:30.4Z
star this property answering member
4004
star this property label Biography information for Mike Freer more like this
star this property tabling member
4698
unstar this property label Biography information for Janet Daby more like this
1657075
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2023-09-01more like thismore than 2023-09-01
star this property answering body
Ministry of Justice more like this
star this property answering dept id 54 remove filter
star this property answering dept short name Justice more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Justice more like this
star this property hansard heading Criminal Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has held recent discussions with the Home Secretary on the potential impact of increases in the number of police officers on the adequacy of criminal legal aid provision. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Lewisham East more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Janet Daby more like this
star this property uin 196719 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2023-09-11more like thismore than 2023-09-11
unstar this property answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Justice and Home Secretary meet regularly to discuss matters pertaining to criminal justice.</p><p> </p><p>In September 2022 we boosted the system with immediate investment, including uplifts of 15% to most criminal legal aid fee schemes.</p><p> </p><p>The increases we have implemented, alongside longer-term reforms mean that criminal legal aid spending is expected to be up to £1.2 billion per year.</p><p> </p><p>The Legal Aid Agency keep legal aid provision under constant review, taking immediate action when gaps appear.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green more like this
star this property answering member printed Mike Freer more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2023-09-11T14:33:42.487Zmore like thismore than 2023-09-11T14:33:42.487Z
star this property answering member
4004
star this property label Biography information for Mike Freer more like this
star this property tabling member
4698
unstar this property label Biography information for Janet Daby more like this
1487625
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2022-07-08more like thismore than 2022-07-08
star this property answering body
Ministry of Justice more like this
star this property answering dept id 54 remove filter
star this property answering dept short name Justice more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Justice more like this
star this property hansard heading Criminal Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many criminal legal aid firms have offered the Legal Aid Agency back-up advocacy since 11 May 2022. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Manchester, Gorton more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Afzal Khan more like this
star this property uin 33000 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2022-07-13more like thismore than 2022-07-13
unstar this property answer text <p>The number of contacts registered with the Legal Aid Agency’s Crown Court Representation helpline is subject to fluctuation. The number of registered contacts as of 11 July is seven. The helpline does not require higher court advocates to be registered individually. Therefore, some of the registered contacts may have multiple higher court advocates available to provide advocacy services in the Crown Court.</p><p>The Crown Court Representation Helpline is in place to make the process of identifying higher court advocates easier for providers who may be impacted ongoing disruptive action by the Criminal Bar. Providers are not limited to instructing higher court advocates registered with the helpline. The <a href="https://publicdefenderservice.org.uk/" target="_blank">Public Defender Service</a> may also be able to provide advocacy support where cases have been impacted by disruptive action.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Derbyshire Dales more like this
star this property answering member printed Miss Sarah Dines more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2022-07-13T15:47:56.883Zmore like thismore than 2022-07-13T15:47:56.883Z
star this property answering member
4816
star this property label Biography information for Miss Sarah Dines more like this
star this property tabling member
4671
unstar this property label Biography information for Afzal Khan more like this
1464434
unstar this property registered interest true more like this
star this property date less than 2022-05-19more like thismore than 2022-05-19
star this property answering body
Ministry of Justice more like this
star this property answering dept id 54 remove filter
star this property answering dept short name Justice more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Justice more like this
star this property hansard heading Criminal Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many criminal legal aid firms have been added to the Legal Aid Agency’s list of providers willing to accept instructions for advocacy services at different locations since 11 April 2022; and what data his Department holds on number of trials in the Crown Court that have been adjourned or postponed due to the unavailability of a defence advocate. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Kingston upon Hull East more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Karl Turner more like this
star this property uin 5390 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2022-05-25more like thismore than 2022-05-25
unstar this property answer text <p>At the point the Crown Court Representation Helpline was launched on 20 April, there were 19 contacts registered. The helpline does not require higher court advocates to be registered individually. Therefore, some of the registered contacts may have multiple higher court advocates available to provide advocacy services in the Crown Court. The number of registered contacts is subject to fluctuation.</p><p>The Crown Court Representation Helpline is in place to make the process of identifying higher court advocates easier for providers who may be impacted by barristers declining to accept returns in defence cases as part of national Criminal Bar Association disruptive action. Providers are not limited to instructing higher court advocates registered with the helpline. The <a href="https://publicdefenderservice.org.uk/" target="_blank">Public Defender Service</a> may also be able to provide advocacy support where cases have been impacted by the no returns action.</p><p>The Department publishes data on volumes and the reasons why trials do not go ahead as part of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-court-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2021" target="_blank">Criminal court statistics quarterly</a>. The latest statistics cover the period October to December 2021. In line with the timetable for the publication of official statistics into the public domain we are unable to provide data for more recent months at this time.</p>
star this property answering member constituency South Suffolk more like this
star this property answering member printed James Cartlidge more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2022-05-25T09:39:53.537Zmore like thismore than 2022-05-25T09:39:53.537Z
star this property answering member
4519
star this property label Biography information for James Cartlidge more like this
star this property tabling member
4030
unstar this property label Biography information for Karl Turner more like this
1464039
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2022-05-18more like thismore than 2022-05-18
star this property answering body
Ministry of Justice more like this
star this property answering dept id 54 remove filter
star this property answering dept short name Justice more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Justice more like this
star this property hansard heading Criminal Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many criminal legal aid firms have offered the Legal Aid Agency back-up advocacy from 11 April 2022. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Manchester, Gorton more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Afzal Khan more like this
star this property uin 4678 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2022-05-23more like thismore than 2022-05-23
unstar this property answer text <p>At the point the Crown Court Representation Helpline was launched on 20 April, there were 19 contacts registered. The helpline does not require higher court advocates to be registered individually. Therefore, some of the registered contacts may have multiple higher court advocates available to provide advocacy services in the Crown Court. The number of registered contacts is subject to fluctuation.</p><p>The Crown Court Representation Helpline is in place to make the process of identifying higher court advocates easier for providers who may be impacted by barristers declining to accept returns in defence cases as part of national Criminal Bar Association disruptive action. Providers are not limited to instructing higher court advocates registered with the helpline. The <a href="https://publicdefenderservice.org.uk/" target="_blank">Public Defender Service</a> may also be able to provide advocacy support where cases have been impacted by the no returns action.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency South Suffolk more like this
star this property answering member printed James Cartlidge more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2022-05-23T15:50:59.057Zmore like thismore than 2022-05-23T15:50:59.057Z
star this property answering member
4519
star this property label Biography information for James Cartlidge more like this
star this property tabling member
4671
unstar this property label Biography information for Afzal Khan more like this
1439272
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2022-03-09more like thismore than 2022-03-09
star this property answering body
Ministry of Justice more like this
star this property answering dept id 54 remove filter
star this property answering dept short name Justice more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Justice more like this
star this property hansard heading Criminal Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much criminal legal aid has been spent on the Litigators' Graduated Fee Scheme in each of the last 10 years. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Manchester, Gorton more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Afzal Khan more like this
star this property uin 137434 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2022-03-14more like thismore than 2022-03-14
unstar this property answer text <p>The amount spent from the public purse by the Secretary of State for Justice on the Litigators’ Graduated Fee Scheme in the last 10 years is published in the Legal Aid Statistics in England and Wales. Statistics on legal aid volumes and expenditure are published at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-july-to-september-2021" target="_blank">Legal aid statistics: July to September 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p> </p><p>It should be noted that figures are not final and may increase. This is because cases are billed by legal representatives at the conclusion of the case. Some cases which commenced in previous years, and in particular in the last financial year, may still be ongoing and therefore no final claim will have been submitted for payment.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency South Suffolk more like this
star this property answering member printed James Cartlidge more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2022-03-14T17:33:56.547Zmore like thismore than 2022-03-14T17:33:56.547Z
star this property answering member
4519
star this property label Biography information for James Cartlidge more like this
star this property tabling member
4671
unstar this property label Biography information for Afzal Khan more like this
1439273
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2022-03-09more like thismore than 2022-03-09
star this property answering body
Ministry of Justice more like this
star this property answering dept id 54 remove filter
star this property answering dept short name Justice more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Justice more like this
star this property hansard heading Criminal Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much criminal legal aid has been spent on accelerated measures applicable to the (a) Advocates' Graduated Fee Scheme and (b) Litigators' Graduated Fee Scheme from the date those measures came into force to December 2021. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Manchester, Gorton more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Afzal Khan more like this
star this property uin 137435 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2022-03-17more like thismore than 2022-03-17
unstar this property answer text <p>Up to the end of September 2021, which is the latest period that official statistics exist for, £10 million was spent on accelerated measure in total. The accelerated measures are split across three funding schemes: the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS) and the Litigator’s Graduated Fee Scheme (LGFS), which provide remuneration to advocates and litigators in the Crown Court, and the crime lower funding scheme which provides remuneration to advocates and litigators in the magistrates’ court.</p><p> </p><p>In total £2.8 million has been spent on accelerated measures applicable to the AGFS and £0.4 million has been spent on accelerated measures applicable to the LGFS. The remaining spend has been under the crime lower scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The actual spend to date under the accelerated measures is lower than expected at this point. This is due to a number of factors, including the impact of COVID-19 on the court system, which has slowed the rate at which new cases are disposed of by the courts, meaning that the build-up of expenditure on these measures has been generally slower than anticipated. Additionally, there have been lower than expected numbers of providers making claims where they are eligible to do so under certain accelerated items such as the fixed fee for consideration of unused material. In response to this, the Legal Aid Agency has increased its communications regarding claiming accelerated items and has added prompts to the digital payment system to encourage providers to claim the fixed fee in eligible cases. We expect the rate of payments to increase in the coming months.</p>
star this property answering member constituency South Suffolk more like this
star this property answering member printed James Cartlidge more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2022-03-17T16:16:51.363Zmore like thismore than 2022-03-17T16:16:51.363Z
star this property answering member
4519
star this property label Biography information for James Cartlidge more like this
star this property tabling member
4671
unstar this property label Biography information for Afzal Khan more like this
1437567
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2022-03-02more like thismore than 2022-03-02
star this property answering body
Ministry of Justice more like this
star this property answering dept id 54 remove filter
star this property answering dept short name Justice more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Justice more like this
star this property hansard heading Criminal Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much additional funding has been committed to criminal legal aid since 2018; how that figure has been calculated; how much of that funding has been spent; and what the funding breakdown is between payments to litigators and to advocates. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Manchester, Gorton more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Afzal Khan more like this
star this property uin 133281 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2022-03-08more like thismore than 2022-03-08
unstar this property answer text <p>From point of implementation in September 2020 up to the end of September 2021, which is the period for which official statistics exist, total expenditure on accelerated items amounts to £10 million. This represents 20% of the total potential steady state expenditure introduced under the accelerated items of the Criminal Legal Aid Review.</p><p> </p><p>The actual spend to date under the accelerated items is lower than expected at this point. This is due to a number of factors including the impact of COVID-19 on the court system, which has slowed the rate at which new cases are disposed of by the courts, meaning that the build-up of expenditure on these measures has been generally slower than anticipated. Additionally, there have been lower than expected numbers of providers making claims where they are eligible to do so under certain accelerated items such as the fixed fee for consideration of unused material. In response to this the Legal Aid Agency has increased its communications regarding claiming accelerated items and has added prompts to the digital payment system to encourage providers to claim the fixed fee in eligible cases. We expect the rate of payments to increase in the coming months.</p><p> </p><p>Criminal legal aid reforms since 2018 have increased funding by up to £74 million, in steady state terms. In 2018 the Ministry of Justice made a number of amendments to the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS) at a commensurate annual cost of £23 million. In 2020, a number of accelerated items affecting both Litigators’ Graduated Fee Scheme (LGFS) and AGFS, were introduced following completion of the first phase of the Criminal Legal Aid Review. These measures had the effect of injecting up to a further £51 million into criminal legal aid.</p><p>The Impact Assessments published alongside the consultation responses on the fee changes set out methodology and assumptions used to calculate the increase to expenditure as a result of these measures.</p><ul><li>2018 amendments to the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme <a href="https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/amending-the-advocates-graduated-fee-scheme/results/agfs-response-impact-assessment.pdf" target="_blank">agfs-response-impact-assessment.pdf (justice.gov.uk)</a></li><li>2020 Accelerated Items <a href="https://consult.justice.gov.uk/criminal-legal-aid/criminal-legal-aid-review/results/clar-impact-assessment.pdf" target="_blank">Criminal Legal Aid Review: an accelerated package of measures amending the criminal legal aid fee schemes (justice.gov.uk)</a></li></ul><p> </p><p>As the amendments introduced in 2018 had the effect of re-baselining fees paid under the AGFS, information about how much has been paid in total specifically as a result of these amendments could only be obtained at disproportionate cost to the Department. However, details of annual expenditure under the AGFS can be found in published LAA statistics <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-july-to-september-2021" target="_blank">Legal aid statistics: July to September 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a> (table 4.3). All of the additional expenditure introduced as a result of these amendments has been paid to advocates.</p><p> </p><p>As of 30 September 2021, total expenditure in relation to the accelerated items was £10 million. Of this £2.3 million was paid to advocates and £7.7 million was paid to litigators.</p>
star this property answering member constituency South Suffolk more like this
star this property answering member printed James Cartlidge more like this
star this property grouped question UIN 133280 more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2022-03-08T16:28:49.937Zmore like thismore than 2022-03-08T16:28:49.937Z
star this property answering member
4519
star this property label Biography information for James Cartlidge more like this
star this property tabling member
4671
unstar this property label Biography information for Afzal Khan more like this