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<p>The requested information can be found in the attachment.</p><p>Data for 2022/23
is a year-to-date figure reflective of the work reported between April 2022 to October
2022, inclusive. Please note that the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) commissions and monitors
legal aid services by ‘Procurement Area’ or ‘Access Point’ rather than by local authority.
Procurement areas differ for different categories of law.</p><p>The LAA frequently
reviews market capacity to make sure there is adequate provision of legal aid, in
all categories of law, throughout England and Wales. The LAA moves quickly, where
issues arise, to secure additional provision and to ensure demand for legal aid services
is met across the country. The LAA contracts with a range of legal aid providers of
varying size and capacity to take on new cases. Additionally, legal advice on a range
of civil matters including housing, debt, discrimination and education is available,
wherever people are, through the Civil Legal Advice telephone service.</p><p>Demand
for legal aid services may vary across different categories of law. In particular,
there may be low demand for services in categories such as clinical negligence or
welfare benefits where the scope of services funded through legal aid was reduced
under the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.</p><p>In early
2023 the LAA will be opening up a tender for new entrants who want to bid for a 2018
civil legal aid contract in all categories.</p><p> </p>
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