Not such a rosy view

Your article on the outcome of the government's comprehensive spending review paints a cheering picture (see [2000] Gazette, 20 July, 3).

Unfortunately, it is also entirely wrong.Legal aid spending this year (still called legal aid in the government paper, practitioners will be pleased to note) is 1.672 billion.

This is set to drop to only 1.632 billion in 2002-3.

The Lord Chancellor's Department has also stated that it intends to help 5% more clients in the priority areas of law by 2004.It doesn't take a genius to work out what scope that leaves for increasing remuneration rates and preserving services in other than the narrow priority areas the Lord Chancellor has highlighted.

This is a very bitter day for access to justice.

Richard Miller, acting director, Legal Aid Practitioners Association