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Carter Review (Legal Aid)

I do not think that we are moving from a completely terrible system to a totally perfect one. We are trying to effect reforms that will create many desirable outcomes. I do not think myself that hourly rates are ideal, but there we are. With exceptional cases, it will be a way of recognising that some cases are much more expensive, and of giving those who handle them some certainty that they will be properly remunerated for the extra complexity. The large amount of money that we spend on legal aid has resulted in a system to be proud of—it helps hundreds of thousands of people a year—but we must focus on achieving best value for money, so that we can get as much help as possible to those who need it. Many hon. Friends from inner-city areas, specifically those from London, have made points about that access and about using the money that we have to ensure that those who need help the most get it. I could not agree more. The example of civil legal help, much of which has been provided under the tailored fixed fee scheme, bears that out. There were fewer than 600,000 acts of assistance in 2004-05, but 800,000 were carried out in 2006-07, partly as a result of that reform—a significant increase due to better productivity. Obviously, we must balance things carefully. One person’s productivity is another person’s squeeze on profits. We must get it right, but that is what the Legal Services Commission, with providers’ co-operation, seeks to do.