NEWS: Legal Services Commission abandons best value tendering for legal aid
After this story in today's LDP Legal in the Daily Post, the Ministry of Justice has abandoned plans for Best Value Tendering for legal aid.
It follows threats by the Law Society to start judicial review proceedings against the Government to try to force it to back down.
A Law Society statement reads: "The Law Society welcomes the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) decision inviting the Legal Services Commission (LSC) not to proceed with its planned pilots for Best Value Tendering (BVT).
Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary and Lord Bach, the Legal Aid Minister have listened carefully to representations made by the Law Society and by legal aid firms.
The MoJ concluded the scheme currently proposed by the LSC - the government agency charged with administering legal aid - is 'unlikely to lead to the efficient, restructured legal services market envisaged by Lord Carter in his 2006 Review of Legal Aid Procurement'.
"The LSC proposed to start piloting BVT in Greater Manchester, Avon and Somerset from January 2010. The plans were met with much opposition by firms, many of whom refused to participate without a TUPE indemnity and said it would result in firms going out of business.
"Law Society President Robert Heslett says: 'The society praises the wisdom and statesman-like approach of the Ministry of Justice in reaching its decision.
" 'For the issues faced by law firms in Avon, Somerset and Manchester, this is a great Christmas present. The society has campaigned against this tendering scheme from its infancy, and so we especially welcome this news.
" 'We now look forward to working afresh with the Legal Services Commission and the Ministry of Justice for a new way forward in 2010.' "
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Ben Schofield
Ben Schofield is the Liverpool Daily Post's legal affairs reporter
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