Publication - Minutes

Legal Aid Payment Advisory Panel minutes: October 2019

Published: 27 January 2020
Directorate: Justice Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Law and order
Date of meeting: 4 October 2019
Location: Thistle House, Edinburgh

Minutes from the fifth meeting of Legal Aid Payment Advisory Panel, held on 4 October 2019.

Attendees and apologies

Attendees

Neil Rennick, Chair
Ruth Innes QC, Faculty of Advocates
Paul Brown, Scottish Association of Law Centres
Colin Lancaster, Scottish Legal Aid Board
Raymond McMenamin, Scottish Legal Aid Board
Gillian Fyfe, Citizens Advice Scotland
Professor Mike Danson, Economist
Professor Frank Stephen, University of Manchester
Alan McCreadie, Law Society of Scotland
Andrew Alexander, Law society of Scotland

Scottish Government Official

Denise Swanson, Head of Access to Justice
Kieran Burke, Bill Team Lead, Access to Justice
Steven Ing, Economic Advisor, Justice Analytical Services
Rebecca Smith, Legal Services Regulation, Access to Justice
Jill Stephen-Poller, Legal Aid Policy Officer, Access to Justice
Shona Urquhart, Legal Aid Reform Manager, Access to Justice

Apologies

Mark Thorley, Law Society of Scotland
Ross Yuill, Society of Solicitor Advocates
Professor Graeme Roy, University of Strathclyde
Ronald Renucci QC, Faculty of Advocates
Ian Moir, Scottish Association of Law Centres

Items and actions

Welcome

Neil Rennick opened the meeting and welcomed the members to the panel.

The panel reflected on the last meeting of 6 September. Valued discussions took place in relation to the next steps as we move forward with an intention to narrow down and refine where we are at now.

Agenda Item 1

Presentation on research undertaken by LSS/Alan McCreadie: Ian Moir

This paper explored research in connection with inflationary based increases to fees.

Agenda Item 2

Paper on COPFS: Shona and JAS. This paper explored the differences in funding costs associated with the prosecution and defence of criminal law.

Agenda Item 3

Paper on contracting: SLAB. This paper was circulated immediately prior to the meeting, it was spoken to by SLAB but Panel members were to reflect and discuss in more detail at the next meeting.