Justice Committee examines calls to increase criminal legal aid funding
14 January 2022
MPs on the Justice Committee will question Sir Christopher Bellamy QC on the findings of the independent review on criminal legal aid, which he chaired. Published last month, the review called for a £135 million annual increase in legal aid funding. It argued the additional funding was needed to reverse the effects of “years of neglect” and meet increased demand likely to come from the Government’s drive to recruit more police officers and tackle the backlog in the Courts.
Poor and irregular pay has led to many criminal defence lawyers leaving the profession. Last July, the Justice Committee warned in its report that this puts the fairness of the justice system at risk as it would leave many people who can’t afford a lawyer without defence.
The session will examine Sir Bellamy’s analysis of the challenges facing criminal legal aid providers, the sustainability of the market, and the current state of the criminal justice system.
Witness
Tuesday 18 January
At 2.30pm
- Sir Christopher Bellamy QC, Chair of the Independent Criminal Legal Aid Review
Further information
Image: MoJ