Grayling to be grilled again over legal aid competitive tendering proposals
updated on 25 July 2013
The House of Commons Justice Committee has summoned justice secretary Chris Grayling to examine the government's proposed cuts to legal aid for a second time.
Following the first consultation, the government promised to drop its criminal legal aid plan to prevent clients from choosing their solicitors, and the committee has hinted that further changes may be required ahead of the second consultation. In particular, it promised to examine the proposed introduction of competitive tendering for legal aid contracts. However, as reported by The Law Society Gazette, the consultation will not cover the ending of legal aid for prison law cases, the 12-month residency requirement (other than for babies under 12 months old) and the limiting of legal aid for judicial review.
In a report on the Transforming Legal Aid consultation, the committee said: "We intend to invite the lord chancellor to appear again before the committee to examine the government's overall response to its initial consultation, and the proposals which are included in its second consultation on the competitive tendering process, in autumn this year."
