Justice minister defends legal aid timetable

The government has defended its timetable over legal aid reforms as the threat of strike action by the criminal bar looms.

Following publication of the criminal legal aid review in December, which recommended an extra £135m a year to nurse the system back to health, lord chancellor Dominic Raab promised to respond to Sir Christopher Bellamy’s recommendations by the end of March.

However, the timetable was deemed unreasonable by hundreds of criminal barristers, who signalled their willingness to take direct action, including no returns, if the government fails to undertake by Valentine’s Day to expedite its response.

Writing in the Gazette today, justice minister James Cartlidge said he understood the desire for government to publish its response quickly – but said it was important that the government takes its time to get the proposals right.

He said: ‘No one would disagree that the system is in urgent need of improvement. But publishing in haste wouldn’t give us enough time to fully engage with the whole sector – whose views are so crucial - and risks any future proposals being unlawful. This is simply too important to rush and get wrong.

And bringing forward consideration of certain elements like bar remuneration, as some have suggested, would miss the crux of Sir Christopher Bellamy’s report – the importance of looking at the criminal justice system as a whole.

As promised, we will publish our response to Sir Christopher’s review by the end of March. Given the sheer breadth of issues covered, it’s only right that we give them the full and thorough consideration they deserve.’

Cartlidge's comments are unlike to appease the criminal bar. In his latest weekly update, Criminal Bar Association Jo Sidhu QC said barristers were not prepared for the government 'to push us deep into 2022 before they deliver the significant level of investment so desperately needed. We have already waited too long'.