Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many legal aid providers held contracts but did not take on any cases in the most recent year for which figures are available.

In the financial year 2023/24, of the 1320 legal aid providers holding a contract to deliver civil legal aid services, 81 (6%) did not take on any cases within that period. Of those 81 providers, only 18 have a current contract to deliver civil legal aid services.

Of the 1066 legal aid providers holding a contract to deliver criminal legal aid services, 22 (2%) did not take on any cases in that period. Of those 22 providers, only 6 have a current contract to deliver criminal legal aid services.