Anger over Legal Services Commission plans to limit legal aid pay increasesSocial welfare law practitioners reacted angrily this week to the news that the Legal Services Commission (LSC) plans to limit legal aid pay increases despite earlier indications from the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, that they would be across the board.The apparent back-track follows Lord Irvine's announcement at the launch of the LSC in April that an additional 8 million was being allocated to increase legal help rates by 8% in London and 5% elsewhere.The increases were targeted at contracted firms doing immigration, mental health education, public law, actions against the police and community care work.However, the Commission's recently releasedimplementation plan sees no increase in rates for travelling or waiting.

London rates for routine letters written and telephone calls have been increased but capped to keep them under those for similar work done undercontrolled legal representation - representation before the Mental Health Review Tribunal and the Immigration Appellate Authorities.The LSC said that rates for travelling and waiting for legal help and help at court had not been increased to avoid the 'illogical result' of bringing it above the remuneration rate for travelling and waiting for controlled legal representation.A LSC spokesman said it was clear from Lord Irvine's announcement in April that increases only referred to preparation rates in legal help cases.

Law Society President Robert Sayer said: 'We aredismayed, but not at all surprised, at the Commission's decision.

This is just another example of penny pinching.' Vice-President Michael Napier said it was a slap in the face for contracted firms which thought they had finally secured a genuine improvement.Legal Aid Practitioners Group chairman David Emmerson said there would be anger among hard-working solicitors who had not received even a 'small and narrowly targeted increase'.A Lord Chancellor's Department spokesman said the funding order authorising the increases did not 'compel' the LSC to give the full 8% and 5% increases in all circumstances.

He added that the increase to the 'main' preparation rate for legal help had been implemented in full and that 'flexibility' remained for the LSC to increase rates for travel 'in response to local need'.Sue Allen