§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Attorney-General what consideration he is giving to alternative remuneration structures for solicitors providing criminal legal aid services.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIn the light of information obtained last year which linked profitability from criminal legal aid work with the volume dealt with, the Lord Chancellor recognises that the present remuneration structure for criminal legal aid, which is based on national averages and across the board rates, may no longer be entirely appropriate. He has therefore invited the joint data committee of his Department and the Law Society, with assistance from the Legal Aid Board, to consider the coverage of solicitors' firms which handle criminal legal aid cases and the volume of work available to them. He will consider whether alternative remuneration structures are required when the committee has reported.
§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to ensure the general availability of criminal legal aid services; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Lord Chancellor is committed to ensuring that criminal legal aid services 293W continue to be generally available. There is no objective evidence at present that there are insufficent solicitors available to undertake criminal legal aid work. The number of solicitors carrying out this work is kept under review. The matter is also presently being considered by the joint data committee of the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Law Society.