Question reference: S1W-00075
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 10 June 1999
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Current status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 24 June 1999
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to seek an assurance from the Scottish Legal Aid Board that either - (a) the targets within which Advice and Assistance, Civil and Criminal accounts should be paid are being met; or, (b) arrangements are being made to ensure that the targets will be met in future.
Answer
The targets set out in the Board's annual Corporate Plan are the subject of monthly monitoring by the Board. Recently the Board has fallen seriously behind the targets on the payment of criminal legal aid accounts, and slightly behind in other areas. The Board has recently had a drive for improved quality in accounts assessment, and this, combined with staff turnover, has led to delays. The Board has put in place measures to tackle the backlog including additional staff and is now starting to recover the position. I am being kept fully informed of the developing situation.