Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the Government plans to publish its review of the legal aid reforms brought in by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

The Lord Chancellor has confirmed that we shall conduct an evidence-based review of Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, assessing the changes to legal aid provision against their original objectives. We intend to publish by the end of the year.

The evidence gathering phase of the post-implementation review has concluded and we are currently considering the evidence submitted. During the evidence gathering phase we have engaged over 90 organisations. This process of consideration and engagement with interested parties also represents an opportunity for the Government to consider what the future of legal support should look like.