Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the consultation on the Criminal Legal Aid Review: An accelerated package of measures amending the criminal legal aid fee schemes, published in February 2020, how much was budgeted for unused material; and how much and what proportion of that funding has been spent as of 14 November 2022.

In relation to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on Criminal Legal Aid Review: An accelerated package of measures amending the criminal legal aid fee schemes, the associated Impact Assessment and a breakdown of the expenditure are published online and can be found online at:

• Impact Assessment: Criminal Legal Aid Review: an accelerated package of measures amending the criminal legal aid fee schemes (publishing.service.gov.uk).
• Breakdown of expenditure: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1107342/legal-aid-statistics-clar-apr-jun-2022.ods.

In relation to pre-charge engagement, £9,000 was spent in 2021-22. The Impact Assessment relating to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on Criminal Legal Aid: Renumeration of pre-charge engagement and information on pre-charge engagement spend are also published online and can be found at:

• Impact Assessment: Impact Assessment template (publishing.service.gov.uk).
• Pre-charge engagement spend: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1107333/legal-aid-statistics-tables-apr-jun-2022.ods.