Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Government Support for Law Firms

Thursday 4 June 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Legal aid practitioners have received system changes by the CPS for fee payments and financial support for junior barristers.
  • CPS funding has increased, and payment processes for the legal profession are being expedited.
  • Measures such as expediting fee schemes, reducing stage lengths, and providing up-front fixed fees for covid-19 matters are being implemented to support the legal profession.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Justice & Courts Employment
Context

Legal aid lawyers face difficulties with billing flexibility and business rate relief, impacting their ability to provide services when courts reopen.

Question

Legal aid practitioners play a key role in access to justice. What consideration have the Government given to hard-pressed legal aid lawyers who, for example, need more flexibility with their billing or business rate relief to keep going, so that when cases reopen in courts, they can pick that up?

Answer from Michael Ellis

The CPS has made changes to its systems for paying fees to advocates and is working closely with legal practitioners. The Ministry of Justice supports junior barristers financially, and they are streamlining financial payments.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps for billing flexibility or business rate relief not mentioned

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Q2 Antony Higginbotham
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

There is a lack of evidence for prosecuting those who assault emergency services, and body cameras could provide crucial evidence but also add workload burden.

Question

Could the Solicitor General set out what steps are being taken to make sure that the CPS has access to such evidence, including making sure that our emergency services have better access to body cameras?

Answer from Michael Ellis

The CPS funding has increased and payment for legal profession is expedited. However, the answer did not directly address the specific request about steps being taken regarding body cameras.

Not addressed: Steps to improve CPS access to evidence or support for emergency services using body cameras

How: Changed Subject Entirely

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Q3 Ellie Reeves Lab Lewisham West and East Dulwich
Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics
Context

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed inequalities for the black, Asian, and minority ethnic community in the legal sector. 55% of BAME barristers rely heavily on legal aid income, and 84% cannot survive without support.

Question

What urgent action will the Solicitor General take to reverse the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and to restore funds to legal aid?

Answer from Michael Ellis

Measures such as expediting outstanding fee schemes, reducing stage lengths for payments, concluding main hearings before completion, and providing up-front fixed fees of £500 for covid-19 matters are being taken to support the legal profession.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Action to reverse LASPO Act or restore funds not mentioned

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