Criminal Defence Service: First Assist Insurance

Mr. Bellingham
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Legal Services Commission remains in contract with First Assist for services relating to the delivery of CDS Direct.

Maria Eagle
The LSC is in contract with First Assist Ltd. until end October 2007 for the delivery of CDS Direct. After this, CDS Direct will be provided by Bostalls, O’ Garras solicitors and the Johnson Partnership solicitors who were all successful in an open competitive tendering process. First Assist’s contract with the LSC for the provision of Defence Solicitor Call Centre work will continue until it expires, currently on 31 March 2009.

Mr. Bellingham
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost of the Legal Services Commission’s contract with First Assist with services related to the delivery of CDS Direct was in each of the last six months.

Maria Eagle
LSC contract with First Assist for April to September 2007 are as follows. These costs include: advisers, supervisors, call costs and VAT.

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|         |£      |
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|April    |126,345|
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|May      |120,850|
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|June     |106,493|
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|July     |112,428|
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|August   |115,418|
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|September|111,775|
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