Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of legal aid fees for housing cases not being increased for 20 years on the number of solicitors' firms providing advice and representation; for what reason they has been no increase in such fees; whether they intend to increase those fees; and if not, why not.
Answered on
14 May 2019
In February 2019 the Post Implementation Review (PIR) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) was published. This included an evidence based assessment of the impact of changes to civil fees made as part of The Legal Aid Reform Programme.
The PIR found that for the vast majority of England and Wales there is sufficient coverage of legal provision. This is regularly monitored by the LAA and action is taken where gaps in services are identified or where demand is greater than the available supply.
It is also worth noting that wherever you are in England and Wales, legal advice for housing remains available through the telephone gateway.