Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many solicitors were on the Legal Aid Agency’s January 2023 criminal duty rota who had not been present on the Legal Aid Agency’s criminal duty rotas in the previous 12 months.

Of the 4023 members included in the Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) Duty Solicitor Rota commencing on 3 January 2023, there were approximately 86 members who had not been present on rotas which had commenced in the previous 12 months. This figure is based on a comparison of published member lists, which are compiled using data captured in duty solicitor application forms.

The LAA frequently reviews market capacity to make sure there is adequate provision of legal aid, in all categories of law, throughout England and Wales. The LAA moves quickly, where issues arise, to secure additional provision and to ensure demand for legal aid services is met across the country.

The LAA is satisfied that there continues to be sufficient duty solicitor coverage across all duty schemes. Provision under the duty scheme is demand led and so there may be variations in numbers across each local rota or other fluctuations in numbers depending on prevailing market conditions, and other factors such as the internal management and updating of contract schedules.