Naomi Long

In a written ministerial statement, she said she will now take the necessary steps to implement:

• A further 8.66 percent increase to all criminal legal aid fees;
• An 8.66 percent increase in counsel fees for preparing and submitting skeleton
  arguments on sentencing in the Crown Court; and
• A 26.05 percent increase to hourly rates for Exceptional Preparation in the Crown Court.

Ms Long writes: “In line with the observations of the review, I am also commissioning work to develop an enhanced evidence base to support additional changes to Exceptional Preparation hourly rates and criteria and other associated fees to be implemented early in the next mandate.

“In recognition of their continued efforts to deliver justice, and the applicability of the rationales supporting the Review recommendations, I have decided to extend the general 8.66 percent uplift to civil and family proceedings also. Following separate constructive engagement with the Solicitors Criminal Bar Association, I am also initiating a PACE remuneration pilot which aims to enhance early engagement to improve disposal times for the benefit of victims, witnesses and defendants and the public purse in the longer term.”

The move follows the 16 percent increase in fees implemented earlier this year, which resulted in an annual increase in legal aid spend of £11.5m. This increase was backdated to December 2024, at a cost of £6.15m.

Ms Long said the steps “will result in additional expenditure of £5.4m per annum” and that she is making them “in the interests of the system, the victims, witnesses and defendants who have affected by the CBA action and in recognition of the ongoing commitment of those members of the profession who have continued to deliver services to their clients and who have continued to engage constructively in an effort to help build the evidence that has enabled me to make these decisions”.