Feeling the pinch

It has become abundantly clear that this government is prepared to castigate large companies for failing to pay their debts within a reasonable time to small firms.

Many criminal defence solicitors' firms are in precisely that predicament but the large firm in this case is the government.

We defence solicitors are asked to streamline our work by expediting a conclusion in order to save costs.

We are also asked to forego payment of our costs where cases have been transferred from the magistrates to the Crown Court until the case is concluded.

When we finally issue our bill for taxation the legal aid office is particularly slow in making payment.

What other business would be prepared to wait not only throughout the entire conduct of the case but in addition at least three to four months before being paid a penny.

How would other firms outside of the legal profession stay in business?

How does this government expect a small franchised firm to pay wages and other overheads in these circumstances? It is about time the government looked to itself before criticising other concerns.

A Gibson, Ponteland, Newcastle