§ 49. Mr. Stanbrookasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the current scales of fees payable to counsel in respect of work done under the legal aid scheme and for prosecuting authorities was adopted and when he expects new scales to be adopted.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesMaximum fees payable to counsel for criminal legal aid work are prescribed in the schedule to the Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings (Fees and Expenses) Regulations 1968. Those regulations contain a provision that the prescribed maxima should not apply if, for a variety of specified reasons, they would not provide fair remuneration for work actually and reasonably done. I have no present intention of amending the schedule. I do not prescribe scales of fees for counsel engaged in prosecutions.