§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Attorney-General when he intends to introduce the scheme for interim payment of experts' fees from legal aid funds.
The Attorney-GeneralIn a legally aided civil case, a solicitor may claim a payment on account for disbursements, including experts' fees. The Lord Chancellor had hoped to introduce a similar scheme last year for the payment of Crown court legal aid bills, but the proposals he put forward for the scale and operation of such a scheme were not acceptable to the Law Society.
The Lord Chancellor is now reconsidering his proposals, and hopes to continue consultation with the Law Society and be in a position to introduce a scheme later this year.