Dear Member,
Please see the attached letter (link below) from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice with the SSI laid before the Scottish Parliament yesterday, which I have been “embargoed” from releasing until today.
28.01.21 – Support for the Profession – Letter from CSJ to GBA
Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021
The format mirrors that of the SSI from 2019 in relation to the 3% fee rise. Procedurally, this will be placed before the Delegated Powers and Law Reform committee, which will likely consider these next Tuesday, for technical competence, to confirm that these are permissible under the regulation laying powers of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986. They will then be passed to the Justice Committee, no earlier than 16th February for consideration. There will be an opportunity to raise legal aid issues during this process but it is expected that the regulations will be passed in their current format. It is expected that the Regulations will come into force on 22nd March 2021. The process will be repeated for next year’s 5% increase.
Should you wish to make any representations, please either contact the Executive Committee by email to info@glasgowbarassociation.co.uk and/or contact the Joint LANT representatives of the Law Society of Scotland by email to legalaid@lawscot.co.uk.
I will keep you updated.
Best wishes meantime.
Fiona McKinnon
President
On behalf of the Executive Committee of the Glasgow Bar Association