To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on the poorest people requiring legal assistance of the recommendations on changes of legal aid fees made by the Carter Review of legal aid procurement. (110870)

The Government’s proposals, set out in “Legal Aid Reform: the Way Ahead”, will ensure that legal aid continues to be available for those people who require legal assistance. The reforms will ensure that legal aid spending can be placed on a sustainable footing and spending rebalanced between civil, family and criminal legal aid. This will be of particular benefit to the vulnerable and those facing social exclusion.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations her Department has received since November 2006 on the level of fees set for civil legal aid solicitors arising from the Carter Review of legal aid procurement; what meetings have been held with the Law Society on the Carter Review recommendations; what the outcome was of such meetings; and if she will make a statement. (110871)

As at 19 January 2007, the Department had received 80 representations since November 2006 on civil and family legal aid solicitors’ fees. There have been extensive discussions with the Law Society and other key stakeholders. These are being taken into account in further work by the Department and the Legal Services Commission.