News Release

Legal Aid Procurement: Announcement of Review Work Programme

Date: 30 August 2005

Details of how the Review of Legal Aid Procurement will be taken forward over the next few months were announced today.

The review is being headed by Lord Carter of Coles and will develop a plan for delivering a procurement system for legal aid which achieves maximum value for money and control over spending, whilst ensuring quality and fairness in the criminal justice system.

The review’s success depends on the ongoing engagement, input and support of the legal professions and government departments and agencies involved. Lord Carter said:

“Since 5 July, my team and I have met a number of figures from the legal professions and have gained valuable insight into the important role they play, and the current legal aid issues facing all stakeholders.

“I have been very impressed by the willingness of the professions to support and become engaged in the review, and I welcome their commitment to continue their engagement as I proceed”.

Several pieces of work are being carried out over the next few months to inform the review. The work includes:

• a study of the workflows, roles and responsibilities and how they relate to expenditure, income, efficiency and productivity of the legal professions in delivering legal aid services;
• a clearer understanding of the systems, procedures, quality control mechanisms and cost-drivers involved with legal aid work and how these compare to the way justice is delivered in other countries; and
• development of possible future models for procuring and delivering publicly funded legal services in England and Wales.

Much of this work will be carried out with advice and close engagement of the professions and the representative bodies, the judiciary and the relevant government departments and agencies.

While this work is being undertaken anyone with an interest in this work can make submissions to:

The Secretariat
Lord Carter’s Review of Legal Aid Procurement
2.02 Selborne House
54 Victoria Street
LONDON SW1E 6QW
email:
fax: 020 7210 1348

Notes to Editors

1. 1. Further details on the review, Lord Carter and the Department for Constitutional Affairs can be found at www.legalaidprocurementreview.gov.uk.

ENDS