Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate has been made of the number of criminal appeals departments in law firms that have closed since the changes to legal aid funding introduced in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 were introduced.

The Ministry of Justice has not made any estimate of the number of criminal appeals departments in law firms that have closed since the changes to legal aid funding introduced in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 were introduced.

All Criminal Legal Aid Contract holders are entitled to undertake Criminal Appeals and Reviews work.