HC Deb 23 February 1999 vol 326 cc176-7
32. Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)

If he will make a statement on the legal aid budget for 1999–2000. [70853]

The Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon)

Legal aid provision for 1999–2000 is £1.63 billion. Of that, the Government expect to spend approximately £850 million on criminal cases and £780 million on civil and family legal aid.

Mr. Bercow

I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Given that the number of firms providing legal aid services is set to fall, as a direct result of Government policy, from 10,600 to only 3,000, why does he not understand that firms with block contracts to act in either the civil or the criminal courts are anxious for some reassurance about what will happen after the first round of contracts has been concluded under his Access to Justice Bill?

Will the Minister accept that, unless some such reassurance is forthcoming, people will inevitably conclude that the Government are hellbent on cutting costs, whatever the sacrifice in the quality of service or in access to justice?

Mr. Hoon

I want to make it clear to the House that no decision has yet been taken on precisely how many solicitors will be granted contracts. However, the hon. Gentleman's conclusion is wrong. The whole purpose of franchising and providing contracts is to ensure that members of the public have access to specialists. Indeed, those who are eligible for franchises and contracts will be high-quality solicitors who specialise in particular areas. That will ensure access to justice; it will also ensure that ordinary members of the public have the best-quality service.

Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire, Moorlands)

Is it not the case that some lawyers are getting rich at the expense of the legal aid budget, while profit-free services such as citizens advice bureaux and law centres suffer?

Mr. Hoon

Certainly, that is part of the underlying reason why the Government intend to create a community legal service, as I said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Redditch (Jacqui Smith) earlier. The community legal service will be able to concentrate help where it is most needed, especially among the most disadvantaged in our society.