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New figures from the Legal Aid Agency show there is no need and no scope for further cuts, the Bar Council has claimed.
Welcoming the quarterly legal aid statistics as a “more transparent approach to the workings of legal aid”, Nicholas Lavender QC, Chairman of the Bar, said: “Crime has fallen and so have criminal cases going to court. This means that the cost of legal aid has fallen. Crown Court advocacy fees have already been cut by an average of 21% since 2007 (or 37% in real terms).”
The figures, which cover the quarter from April to June 2014, show that £49.9m was spent under the Advocates Graduated Fee Scheme, which indicates a level of expenditure of less than £200m per annum on the AGFS for 2014.
The same expenditure for 2012 was £264m, which itself was less than in earlier years. In Q2 2014 87,526 people were granted legal aid in the magistrates’ courts. The equivalent figure for Q2 2011 was 104,148 – a fall of 16% in three years. The number of the most serious (indictable-only) cases going to the Crown Court has also fallen.
The figures, which cover the quarter from April to June 2014, show that £49.9m was spent under the Advocates Graduated Fee Scheme, which indicates a level of expenditure of less than £200m per annum on the AGFS for 2014.
The same expenditure for 2012 was £264m, which itself was less than in earlier years. In Q2 2014 87,526 people were granted legal aid in the magistrates’ courts. The equivalent figure for Q2 2011 was 104,148 – a fall of 16% in three years. The number of the most serious (indictable-only) cases going to the Crown Court has also fallen.
New figures from the Legal Aid Agency show there is no need and no scope for further cuts, the Bar Council has claimed.
Welcoming the quarterly legal aid statistics as a “more transparent approach to the workings of legal aid”, Nicholas Lavender QC, Chairman of the Bar, said: “Crime has fallen and so have criminal cases going to court. This means that the cost of legal aid has fallen. Crown Court advocacy fees have already been cut by an average of 21% since 2007 (or 37% in real terms).”
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Switching from a physical blue book to OneNote is simple, secure and game-changing, says Elizabeth Bowden – you’ll wonder how you managed without it...
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
