Legal Matters : Fees System Must Be Fair to All, Says Minister ; Midland Barristers Plan to Strike Over Cuts to Legal Aid Payments From October 3. The Birmingham Post Put Some of Their Concerns to Bridget Prentice, Minister for Legal Aid

Birmingham Post › September 28, 2005

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Summary

Q: Does the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) believe an independent criminal bar remains essential for the administration of justice in the Crown Court?

A: Lord Falconer wants to maintain the independence of the criminal bar. He sees reform of the legal aid system as essential to maintaining both the legal aid system and the independence of the criminal barQ: Most cases tried in the Crown Court last ten days or less. Fees paid to barristers in these cases have not increased since 1997, and inflation means they have been reduced by 25 per cent. Does the DCA accept this is unfair?

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Legal Matters : Fees System Must Be Fair to All, Says Minister ; Midland Barristers Plan to Strike Over Cuts to Legal Aid Payments From October 3. The Birmingham Post Put Some of Their Concerns to Bridget Prentice, Minister for Legal Aid

A: Fee rates have not risen but since 1997 payments to barristers have gone up by 78 per cent, although there has been little increase in the total number of cases. A lone junior barrister who takes on a oned...

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