Gove 'blows big chance' to set record straight on criminal legal aid

The justice secretary has given no indication on whether he will back down from the controversial two-tier criminal legal aid procurement process that has been dogged by criticism and is the subject of legal proceedings.

Reports surfaced over the weekend that Michael Gove would retreat over plans to overhaul the legal aid system, but at justice questions today, the justice secretary gave nothing away when questioned in a near empty House of Commons.

The Lord Chancellor said the legal aid system needed reforming in order to make access to justice easier for all. 'It has been the case we have had to reduce the spend on legal aid to deal with the deficit that we inherited from the last government,' said Gove.

'It is also the case that we maintain more generous legal aid in this country than any other comparable jurisdiction.'

Labour's shadow minister for human rights Andy Slaughter, who questioned the Lord Chancellor on the issue, told SJ: 'Gove had a big chance today to set the record straight on criminal legal aid but he blew it. It's time for him to make a full statement on two-tier and set the record straight.'

Last week the shadow justice secretary, Lord Falconer, wrote to his counterpart asking for clarification of the government's position on the issue and called for an abandonment of the two-tier policy, stating the procurement process has been 'mired in chaos from start to finish'.

Last November the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) announced that services under the new contracts would start on 1 April 2016, three months later than originally scheduled.

The Law Society has also asked the Ministry of Justice to clarify its position after speculation arose that court action would cease last week.

In a letter to the justice minister Shailesh Vara, the president of the society, Jonathan Smithers, expressed concerns over the uncertainty solicitors and law firms faced in planning for the future while the legal aid duty service situation remained unresolved.

Today in the Commons, Vara echoed the Lord Chancellor's sentiments, arguing that England and Wales has one of the most generous legal aid systems in the world. He added that the government would review changes to civil legal aid but did not give a timescale.