§ 34. Mr. RobathanTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the Law Society's proposals for the reform of legal aid with special reference to the control of the legal aid budget. [7632]
§ Mr. StreeterAll the proposals contained in the Law Society's paper, "Better Value Better Justice", have been carefully considered. Where possible, we are assessing and taking forward these proposals in consultation with the Law Society and other interested parties.
§ 35. Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of recent representations to his Department about proposals for the reform of legal aid. [7633]
§ Mr. StreeterI frequently receive representations on this matter from professional bodies and associations, pressure groups, advice services, individual lawyers, and members of the public. I have been encouraged by the response to date and look forward to further discussions and consultation as the reforms progress.
§ 37. Mr. FlynnTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what new proposals he has to reduce the costs of legal aid with particular reference to solicitor's fees. [7635]
§ Mr. StreeterThe Government's long-term plans for legal aid are set out in the White Paper, "Striking the Balance" (Cm 3305 HMSO). In the short term, I propose to introduce standard fees for advocates in all civil cases and for litigators conducting family and domestic violence cases. Standard fees will provide a better means of controlling expenditure than hourly based payment systems, whilst at the same time providing a quicker more certain remuneration system for lawyers.