The Legal Services Commission says that my figures in respect of the number of firms that may fold following implementation of best value tendering (BVT) are ‘inaccurate’ (see [2009] Gazette, 4 June, 2).

I have written to the commission inviting it to explain why. In the meantime, however, your readers should note that in annex 6 to the BVT consultation it is asserted that there are currently eight suppliers on the Wigan duty scheme. I am based in Wigan, and unless there are three firms operating in secret, the figure is in fact five.

Given that the LSC cannot even calculate correctly when only one hand is required, what hope is there that it is right on anything else? I stand by my figure of 85%. In fact, it could be worse. If you take the commission’s own figures, in the pilot areas they currently show 200 suppliers and a minimum, post tender, of 113. This is a cull of 44%.

What is not admitted, however, is that the same firms may control multiple schemes. That is the situation now in some areas and will be a financial imperative for firms looking to take advantage of economies of scale. That is why my calculations are much more realistic. It is time for solicitors and the bar to wake up to this threatened massacre of criminal defence services, before it is too late.

Andrew Keogh, Keogh Solicitors, Wigan