Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to allow Courts to impose cost orders on those who (a) plead and (b) are found guilty in order to recover the costs of (i) investigating the offence, (ii) bringing the case to Court and (iii) legal aid.

Courts have wide ranging powers to impose cost orders on defendants and to recover some of the costs of investigating the offence and bringing the case to court. All such orders are at the discretion of the court, ensuring that they are just and reasonable, taking into account the means of the offender. The Legal Aid Agency is responsible for recovering contributions towards defendants’ legal aid costs from their income during the case and from their capital if they are convicted. Income contributions are returned to defendants who are acquitted.