To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what criteria were used to determine when to commission Ernst and Young to conduct economic research as part of the Legal Services Commission’s review of family law legal aid funding; and if he will make a statement. (282439)

The LSC commissioned the Ernst and Young research as part of their responsibility as a commissioning organisation to ensure that the impacts on client access to family advocacy services are fully understood, and in order to gain a fuller economic understanding of the market for family advocacy. It was always the LSC’s intention to undertake this research alongside the consultation process. The LSC has agreed to share the outcome of the Ernst and Young research with a number of stakeholders representing legal service providers and will do so shortly.

The LSC issued the invitation, to tender for the research contract as soon as possible after the consultation began.