SEEKING YOUR VIEWS

Consultation on Reform of Civil Advice and Assistance

THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE ARE RUNNING THIS CONSULTATION. THIS INFORMATION IS TAKEN FROM THEIR CONSULTATION PAPERS. WRITTEN RESPONSES ARE DUE BY 28 JANUARY 2005

Hugh Henry MSP, Deputy Minister for Justice at the Scottish Executive, indicated at the Joint Legal Aid Conference organised by the Law Society of Scotland and the Scottish Legal Aid Board on 29 October 2004 that the Scottish Executive intends to take forward the proposals for the reform of civil advice and assistance which have been developed by the Tri-Partite Consultation Group of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, the Law Society of Scotland and the Scottish Executive.

The consultation paper sets out the proposals for the first stage of the reform and asks for your views on the desirability and feasibility of the changes proposed. The covering letter sets the current proposals in the context of the Executive’s commitment to continue to modernise legal aid.

The reform of civil advice and assistance is a key part of the Executive’s continuing programme to modernise legal aid. The core principles underpinning this modernisation can be summarised as:

• fair reward for work done by those who deliver the service;
• the introduction of quality assurance where this is not already in place; and
• the best possible value for the public money invested.

Read the consultation documents

This consultation can be viewed online on the Scottish Executive's website

You can read:

• the cover letter, consultation paper and response form in pdf format
  
  
• the cover letter sent on 3 December 2004 in web page format
  
  
• the consultation paper in web page format
  
  
• consultation response form in pdf format or as a Word document

Responding to this consultation paper

The proposals contained in the paper set out a substantial package of reforms. The Executive is keen to move these reforms forward as soon as possible. The immediate priorities are the proposed changes to the procedures for civil advice and assistance and solicitors’ remuneration. It is intended to introduce these in April 2005, and to introduce the changes to financial eligibility and contributions a couple of months later. To allow the consideration of responses in time for the introduction of the regulations required to implement the first set of changes by April 2005, the consultation period will run until 28 January 2005.

Written responses to this consultation paper are invited by 28 January 2005. Please send your response to:  

• aareform@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
  
  
• or Civil Advice and Assistance Reform Consultation, Access to Justice Division, Scottish Executive, 2 West, St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG

• If you have any queries contact Lynn Dempster at the Scottish Executive on 0131 – 244 2845