Lawyers to vote on legal aid proposal

LAWYERS have been offered a new deal by the Scottish Government, in a bid to end the row over legal aid contributions.

Solicitors boycotted custody courts on different days last year, and the Edinburgh Bar Association (EBA) is currently refusing duty calls to police stations.

However, the Scottish Government has made new concessions which will be voted on over the coming days, with a
decision expected by Friday.

The row centres upon Scottish Government plans to make suspects pay a contribution to legal aid costs, which law firms would be expected to collect.

One new concession is that people remanded in custody, or in prison from a previous offence, would not have to make a contribution. There would also be no contribution in cases reduced from solemn to summary.

In exceptional cases, where a lot of work is required and the bill is very high, the Scottish Legal Aid Board would be
responsible for collecting.

The weekly disposable income threshold would also be raised from £68 to £82, meaning fewer people would contribute.

Cameron Tait, president of the EBA, said: “A ballot will be held to ascertain whether we accept the offer.”