I write in response to the comments made by Desmond Browne QC, the chairman of the Bar Council, about the impact of fees on black and minority ethnic (BME) and female lawyers (see [2009] Gazette, 30 April, 3).

The reasons why the incomes of female, BME and disabled barristers are lower than their counterparts are complex. Discrimination in the allocation of work cannot be ruled out. We have no control over the way that chambers allocate legal aid work, and more lucrative privately paying work. This is something that we will be discussing with the bar and we are happy to continue to work with them on this.

In the meantime, the Legal Services Commission is carefully considering the MDA report provided by the Family Law Bar Association as part of their response to our consultation on family fees. I would also like to assure your readers that we take this issue very seriously.

Carolyn Regan, Chief executive, Legal Services Commission