Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to improve the provision of criminal legal aid to people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

Criminal legal aid, where needed, is essential to support those accused of a crime to defend themselves and to uphold their right to a fair trial.

This Government inherited a justice system in crisis, with a legal aid system that is creaking and on the point of collapse. We have already taken steps to start rebuilding that system and we are committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the legal aid sector.

As an important first step, in November 2024, we announced our response to the Crime Lower consultation, confirming an uplift to the lowest police station fees, introducing a new Youth Court fee scheme, and paying for travel time in certain circumstances. Together, these changes amount to a £24 million investment for criminal legal aid providers.

Furthermore, in December 2024, we announced that criminal legal aid solicitors will receive up to £92 million more a year to support the sustainability of the criminal legal aid market. This latest commitment reflects the vital work that is undertaken by those who provide criminal legal aid and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to access to justice. We are also committed to continuing to work with the criminal legal aid profession, including the Bar, on further opportunities for reform this Parliament and to support the overall sustainability, diversity, and efficiency of the system.

The Legal Aid Agency is responsible for commissioning legal aid services in England and Wales. Procurement for legal aid contracts is now operated under the ‘always on principle’ so that the procurement remains open during the life of the contract. This is a significant change from the previous approach where firms could only bid to join at the initial tender of what typically was a five-year contract term. This new approach enables new entrants to apply for a contract at any time and for existing providers to expand their services. It is a more flexible approach, removing hard deadlines and maximising the available supply of services.