To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many solicitors have given notice of their intention to cease to offer (a) criminal and (b) family legal aid services if the proposed reforms of legal aid are implemented. (115637)

The Government are committed to controlling legal aid expenditure. A small number of practitioners have recently informed the LSC that they do not intend to continue doing legal aid work. This is not unusual, as the number of providers in the market has always fluctuated. There will be no effect on the provision of service to clients in any area. These few solicitors have made this assertion without sight of either the proposed new fee levels (crime and family), or the structure of the process for competitive tendering (crime), both of which the LSC are due to consult on shortly.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent representations she has received on the new system of legal aid provision. (131707)

I meet frequently with legal aid practitioners and other interested parties to discuss aspects of the legal aid reform programme. I also receive correspondence from MPs, representative bodies, practitioner groups and individual practitioners.