In the piece, ‘Criminal legal aid is under threat like never before’ (see [2009] Gazette, 4 June, 17-20), Paul Marsh expressed concerns about best value tendering (BVT), which are important to address.

The proposals for BVT are designed to achieve the best value for taxpayers’ money, while ensuring the quality of criminal defence services for those that need them. The aim is to enable more people to be helped within the resources available. The BVT proposals would allow providers themselves, regardless of their size and structure, to set the price for an efficient and sustainable service, reflecting variations in cost in each criminal justice area.

We are proposing to pilot BVT and are only suggesting that the rollout be accelerated to ensure that any benefits of a BVT system are obtained for as many areas as possible and as quickly as possible, if BVT is proven as an effective tender mechanism.

We have held over 50 consultation events, where a large number of attendees have expressed a range of views on BVT. However, it is only after studying the detailed responses from all interested parties that we will be able to make a decision on how best to progress with our criminal legal aid reforms. As such, I would also like to encourage people to respond to the consultation before it closes on 19 June.

Carolyn Regan, Chief executive, Legal Services Commission