Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much in legal aid claims was paid to Leigh Day in 2013-14.

The net payment to Leigh Day in the 2013/14 financial year was £529,559.30.

This payment covers all work undertaken by the firm under legal aid. The payment made will be offset by recoupment on successful cases where the opponent has paid the costs.

Legal aid is a vital part of our justice system but we must ensure it is sustainable for those who need it, for those who provide legal services as part of it and for the taxpayer, who ultimately pays for it. When we began the process of reform England and Wales had one of the most expensive legal aid systems in the world at around £2 billion a year. We have made tough choices to make the necessary savings whilst still ensuring legal aid remained available where people were most in need of a lawyer.