The Ministry of Justice has agreed to a ‘fundamental review of criminal legal aid payment schemes’, due to begin in January.
It has also laid the statutory instrument bringing into force the new Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme fees, which boost spending on defence fees by £23m.
Criminal Bar Association (CBA) chair Chris Henley QC said this marked ‘tangible progress’ but ‘significant flaws in the structure of the new scheme’ remained.
‘Whilst the new money brings real improvements to fee levels for work undertaken by mainstream juniors, brief fees for the most demanding and evidence heavy work remain too low, fees for “cracks” and guilty pleas do not reflect adequately the work these cases require, and there is still no payment for reviewing unused material.’
Justice minister Lucy Frazer QC, in a statement hosted on the CBA website, said the review ‘will go far beyond the previously announced review of the new scheme’.
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