by the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor
Lord Falconer of Thoroton
Since 5 July 2005 Lord Carter of Coles has led a review of Legal Aid procurement.
Today Lord Carter published his interim report - Procurement of Criminal Defence Services: A Market Based Approach to Reform.
I am very grateful to Lord Carter for the excellent progress he has made. I am also grateful for the continuing support and active engagement with the Carter team which both the Bar Council and Law Society have given. I am looking forward to Lord Carter's final report containing a worked through and fully costed implementation plan for delivering a procurement system that achieves maximum value for money and control over spending whilst ensuring quality and the fairness of the justice system.