Annex C
Letter from the Chairman of the Lord Chancellor's
Legal Aid Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland to the Northern
Ireland Court Service
After I spoke to you yesterday I thought I should
write and let you know the present position in relation to the
LCLAAC investigation into the merits of a Contingency Legal Aid
Fund for Northern Ireland. We have drawn up a research brief and
are presently in discussions with the Research section of the
Legal Services Commission about the time scale and scope of a
feasibility study of our preferred models.
When I spoke to Lord Bach in London I mentioned
that, because of the extended consultations we had in January
and February, there would be some slippage in the production of
an interim report. We however still hoped to adhere to the time
scale originally envisaged of producing a final report at the
end of June and a preliminary report in May.
It is now my view that the most important step
to be taken is the feasibility study. We have formed some preliminary
views and you are aware that a research brief has been prepared
on the basis of these. Rather than produce an interim report I
would now prefer to proceed with commissioning the feasibility
study and undertake a more informal (and hopefully less time consuming)
discussion with the vital interest groups.
There is still considerable pressure on us as
regards time and you are aware of the difficulties of getting
the research completed. I also know that you are anxious to meet
drafting deadlines. It seems to me however that, in face of the
strong support for Claf within Northern Ireland (although there
is some divergence on what form it should take), it is vital to
undertake some form of viability assessment which we are now in
a position to do.
I hope this will help you inform the Select
Committee of the stage we are at and I regret the degree of uncertainty
about time scale but we are really in the hands of those who are
capable of undertaking this. I take it that you will also brief
Lord Bach on the position? I could write to him now but would
prefer to wait until we know something more definite about the
research time.
26 April 2001
| 
