The Justice Minister's announcement today (24 October) setting out the reform of legal aid, advice help, and representation, as part of modernising the justice system, was welcomed by the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

Jean Couper, Chairman of the Scottish Legal Aid Board said:
"I very much welcome the Minister's plans to review legal aid provision in all its forms. Legal aid provision in Scotland is much better than in many other places, both in terms of the range of legal issues covered by the scheme and the ability of those in need to access it. However, we believe that there is scope for legal aid to be further modernised and developed both in its operation and its interaction with the justice system, to bring better services for those who need access to legal information, advice and representation, as well as giving good value for the taxpayer."

"Legal aid is an important public service for many people who do not have the financial resources to assert their legal rights. We look forward to playing our full part with the Executive in undertaking the review of legal aid, to improve the efficient and effective operation of the legal aid system and the delivery of publicly funded legal advice, benefiting the people of Scotland."

"We share the Minster's view that in looking to achieve increased access to justice for those who need it, we must consider all ways of providing legal information, advice and representation. We are currently working with the Executive in establishing pilot advice partnerships and four other innovative advice pilot projects have been running for over a year. Together these pilots are helping identify how access to justice in Scotland might be improved by developing a more effective network of advice provision at the local community level and through different delivery methods. The research published today is a further welcome addition to our understanding of how best this can be achieved."

The past year has seen a number of major developments to legal aid, such as substantial changes to civil legal aid and significant progress in making the legal aid system available through e-business. Jean Couper explained:
"We have shown that we can make real progress to reform and improve access to justice through working in partnership. The reforms to civil legal aid, which came into effect on 1 October, were successfully implemented as the result of partnership working between the Law Society of Scotland, the Scottish Executive and Board. We therefore look forward to taking addressing with others the major work necessary to reform criminal legal aid and advice and assistance."

The civil reforms bring benefits to applicants through the delivery of a quality assured service; benefit the solicitor through an increase in fees and more efficient administration whilst measures which make the system more efficient and cost effective benefit the taxpayer.

The Board's Corporate Plan 2003-2006, which was published in June, anticipated significant changes in access to justice and the operation of legal aid. The plan detailed that the Board was committed to working with the Scottish Executive to continue the development of the legal aid system and to delivering a range of work across three themes:
* Increasing access to quality assured legal advice, assistance and representation for those who need it and who qualify for legal aid
* Working with others to improve the efficient and effective operation of the legal aid system and its interaction with the justice system
* Increasing the Board's efficiency and effectiveness, and providing increased value for money.

ENDS

Journalists please contact: Colin Sim direct tel 0131 240 2033.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Legal aid allows people who would not otherwise be able to afford it to get help for their legal problems. Legal aid and advice and assistance can only be accessed through a solicitor.

2. In 2002/2003 the costs of legal aid to the taxpayer (net Legal Aid Fund expenditure) was £135.1 million. In 2002/2003 there were 317,042 advice and assistance intimations, 85,915 grants of criminal legal aid, 13,480 grants of civil legal aid, 3,118 grants of children's legal aid and 239 grants for contempt of court.

3. The Scottish Legal Aid Board was set up in 1987 to manage legal aid in Scotland. The Board employs around 330 full-time staff. Twelve Board members, appointed by Scottish Ministers, oversee the work.

The Board's mission is to promote the development and delivery of appropriate access to quality legal assistance for those eligible, in a cost-effective manner.

The work of the Board includes:
* advising Scottish Ministers on the current operation and development of legal aid provision
* managing the Legal Aid Fund
* investigating different ways of delivering a legal aid service, for example, by running pilot schemes
* developing operational plans and policies and procedures, including e-business, to improve the delivery and administration of legal aid
* assessing applications for legal aid
* examining solicitors' and advocates' accounts for legal aid work, and paying them for the work they have done
* collecting, for civil legal aid, contributions, expenses, and money won or kept as a result of civil legal aid or advice and assistance
* registering firms and solicitors under the Board's Code of Practice in relation to criminal legal assistance and monitor their ongoing compliance
* investigating and pursuing abuse of legal aid.

4. The Board has two linked websites: www.slab.org.uk and for the profession, www.slabpro.org.uk