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<p>Data on legal aid expenditure is released quarterly by the Legal Aid Agency, with
the next release scheduled for September.</p><p>MoJ is continuing to work closely
with the Legal Aid Agency and HMCTS to assess the impact of Covid-19 on legal aid
provision, and we are working closely with the sector to identify whether further
support is required.</p><p>We have already introduced measures to support the sector,
such as paying for virtual hearings in the same way as in-person hearings, halting
pursuit of outstanding debts, relaxing some evidence requirements, and encouraging
legal practitioners to use existing avenues of financial help, such as the ability
to apply for early payment for work already done on a case. We have already put in
place measures to bring forward funding by expanding the scope and evidence requirements
for payment for work in progress in Crown Court cases.</p><p>We have recently announced
that we will be providing £5.4m in funding to not-for-profit providers of specialist
legal advice, including Law Centres, which should go some way to helping them address
immediate cashflow problems and ensure they remain able to provide support for the
communities they serve.</p>
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