Covid-19 Government Support for Law Firms 2020-06-04
2020-06-04
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Legal aid lawyers face difficulties with billing flexibility and business rate relief, impacting their ability to provide services when courts reopen.
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?
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.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps for billing flexibility or business rate relief not mentioned
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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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.
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?
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.
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Assessment & feedback
Steps to improve CPS access to evidence or support for emergency services using body cameras
Changed Subject Entirely
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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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.
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?
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.
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Assessment & feedback
Action to reverse LASPO Act or restore funds not mentioned
Response accuracy