Written question asked by Laura Moffatt (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 4 February 2010. It was answered by Bridget Prentice (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 February 2010 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Legal Services Commission: Billing

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Legal Services Commission has undertaken to observe the prompt payment code.

Answer: I have been asked to reply.The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is not a formal signatory of the Prompt Payment Code—a Government initiative introduced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to tackle the issue of late payments to businesses. However, the LSC has already taken its own steps to regulate and accelerate payments to legal aid providers. Standard monthly payments (SMP's) are made in advance for advice work completed under contract and in addition, weekly payments are made on bills submitted for civil representation work.

Secondary information