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News
Clarke announces delay in legal aid funding cuts
updated on 09 December 2011
In a significant development in the world of legal aid, Justice Minister Ken Clarke announced last week that he has postponed major reforms to the legal aid system that were due to be implemented in October 2012. They will now be put in place in 2013.
The plans include slashing the legal aid budget by £350 million and abolishing the Legal Services Commission. The Guardian noted that although the decision to postpone has been justified by the need to reschedule legal contracts, it came amidst fierce opposition from the House of Lords and criticism from senior judges and social welfare organisations.
Desmond Hudson, CEO of the Law Society (a long-time opponent of the cuts), is quoted in The Times as saying: “Criminal defence firms will be grateful for the certainty that they have been given for the next three years; and in particular, forms that do both criminal and civil work will be glad only to have to consider changes in one part of the business over the next 18 months. The Law Society is keen to discuss its own ideas for reform of criminal legal aid and this new timetable will now give us the opportunity to discuss these with government.”
