minimum wage

In a recent issue you report on the concerns about the new criminal contracting proposals (see [2000] Gazette, 31 August, 1).

The Lord Chancellor has already made his position clear in that as long as there are sufficient solicitors willing to undertake this work at the rates of pay on offer, he can see no reason for increasing those rates.

Quite clearly actions speak louder than words and with this in mind I have withdrawn from publicly funded criminal work with effect from 30 September.

If a sufficient number of other practitioners take the same approach, changes are likely to come about.

If they do not then the current regime will continue.

Rodney Noon, Rodney W Noon & Co, Harrogate, North Yorkshire