These draft Regulations supersede the draft of the same title which were laid before the Scottish Parliament on 6 September 2023 and published on 7 September 2023 (ISBN 978-0-11-105799-5). They are being issued free of charge to all known recipients of those draft Regulations.
Draft Regulations laid before the Scottish Parliament under section 37(2) of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 for approval by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.
2023 No.
The Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) (No. 4) Regulations 2023
Made
Coming into force
The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 9(1) and (2)(a), (b), (dd), (e), 17(2B), 31(9), 33(2) and (3)(a), (b) and (f), 36(1) and (2)(a) and (b), and 42 of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 19861 and all other powers enabling them to do so.
Citation and commencement 1
These Regulations may be cited as the Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) (No. 4) Regulations 2023 and come into force on 15 November 2023.
Amendment of the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) (Fees) Regulations 1989 2
1
Chapter 2 of schedule 6 (table of fees chargeable by solicitors for defended proceedings in the sheriff court (except where otherwise specified) and in the Sheriff Appeal Court) of the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) (Fees) Regulations 19894 is amended as follows.
2
In the table of fees, in the fee narrative in paragraph 2A(a)(iii) (progress fees (Family and Civil Partnership Actions)), for “10” substitute “11”
.
Amendment of the Criminal Legal Aid (Scotland) (Fees) Regulations 1989 3
1
Schedule 2 (fees of counsel) of the Criminal Legal Aid (Scotland) (Fees) Regulations 19895 is amended as follows.
2
In the notes on the operation of schedule 2—
a
in paragraph 3(c)—
i
for “junior with leader” where it first, second, and third occurs substitute “junior as leader”
,
ii
for “senior junior” substitute “junior as leader”
,
b
in paragraph 16, for “1AA(c)” substitute “1AA(d)”
,
c
in paragraph 16A(1)—
i
in head (c), for “; or” substitute “.”
,
ii
omit head (d),
d
in paragraph 17(ab), omit “or other hearing where a prescribed fee is payable at the rate for trial, ”,
e
in paragraph 18, for sub-paragraph (d) substitute—
d
no fee is payable unless counsel was required to attend and remain available at court in case the trial proceeded that day.
3
In Part 1 of the Table of Fees (Fees of Counsel for Proceedings in the High Court of Justiciary), omit “Offences under the 2000 Act” where it first occurs in each of—
a
Chapter 1 (junior counsel), paragraph 3(a) (trial per day),
b
Chapter 2 (senior counsel), paragraph 3(a) (trial per day).
4
In Part 3 of the Table of Fees (Fees of Counsel for Proceedings in the Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Court), omit “Offences under the 2000 Act” where it first occurs in each of—
a
Chapter 1 (junior counsel), paragraph 2(a) (trial per day),
b
Chapter 2 (senior counsel), paragraph 2(a) (trial per day).
Amendment of the Advice and Assistance (Financial Limit) (Scotland) Regulations 1993 4
In regulation 3(c) (financial limit) of the Advice and Assistance (Financial Limit) (Scotland) Regulations 19936—
a
in each of sub-paragraphs (xii) to (xiv) and (xvii), for “advice” substitute “assistance”
,
b
in sub-paragraph (xvi)—
i
for “£225.00” substitute “£250.00”
,
ii
for “£550.00” substitute “£600.00”
,
c
after sub-paragraph (xvi), insert—
xvia
where the assistance by way of representation relates to an application for a warrant of further detention under paragraph 29 of schedule 8 of the Terrorism Act 2000, or for an extension of the period specified in such a warrant under paragraph 36 of that schedule, the sum of £385,
d
after sub-paragraph (xvii), insert—
xviii
where the advice and assistance is for personal attendance by a solicitor and the client has exercised the right to consult a solicitor under paragraph 15(6) of schedule 6 of the National Security Act 20237, the sum of £250.00 unless as part of that consultation the solicitor is present at an interview carried out in connection with the client’s detention under section 27 of that Act, in which case the sum of £600.00,
xix
where the assistance by way of representation relates to an application for a warrant of further detention under paragraph 37 of schedule 6 of the National Security Act 2023, or for an extension of the period specified in such a warrant under paragraph 44 of that schedule, the sum of £385.
Amendment of the Advice and Assistance (Scotland) Regulations 1996 5
1
The Advice and Assistance (Scotland) Regulations 19968 are amended as follows.
2
In regulation 4A (applications for advice and assistance: further provision), after paragraph (c) insert—
d
a person who is detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023.
3
In regulation 14A(4) (change of solicitor etc.)—
a
after “2016, ” omit “or”, and
b
after “2000” insert “, or paragraphs 37 or 44 of schedule 6 of the National Security Act 2023”
.
4
In regulation 17(1A) (fees and outlays of solicitors), after sub-paragraph (d), insert—
e
Part VII of schedule 3, the reference to Part I of schedule 3 in paragraph (1)(a) above should be read as a reference to Part VII of schedule 3,
f
Part VIII of schedule 3, the reference to Part II of schedule 3 in paragraph (1)(a) above should be read as a reference to Part VIII of schedule 3.
5
In schedule 3 (table of fees allowable to solicitors)—
a
for the table of fees in Part V (assistance by way of representation for proceedings under schedule 8 of the Terrorism Act 2000) substitute—
Paragraph 29 (application for warrant of further detention) or 36 (application for extension of warrant of further detention) of schedule 8 of the Terrorism Act 2000
(a)
Inclusive fee, excluding travel, for all work where matter does not proceed to a court hearing.
£62.59
(b)
Inclusive fee, excluding travel, for all work where matter proceeds to a court hearing.
£93.87
(c)
Additional fee, excluding travel, for second or subsequent court hearing, per hearing.
£62.59
(d)
Fee for time necessarily spent travelling to and from court, where the court is not in a town or place where the solicitor has a place of business, per quarter hour.
£7.28
b
in the table of fees in Part VI (advice and assistance in relation to section 41 and schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and Part 1 of schedule 8 of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019), in paragraph 2 for “these regulations” substitute “this schedule”
,
c
after Part VI insert—
PART VIITABLE OF FEES ALLOWABLE TO SOLICITORS FOR ASSISTANCE BY WAY OF REPRESENTATION FOR PROCEEDINGS UNDER SCHEDULE 6 OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT 2023
A reference in this Table of Fees to a paragraph is a reference to a paragraph of schedule 6 of the National Security Act 2023.
Paragraph 37 (application for warrant of further detention) or 44 (application for extension of warrant of further detention)
(a)
Inclusive fee, excluding travel, for all work where matter does not proceed to a court hearing.
£62.59
(b)
Inclusive fee, excluding travel, for all work where matter proceeds to a court hearing.
£93.87
(c)
Additional fee, excluding travel, for second or subsequent court hearing (including a hearing in relation to an application for an order under paragraph 42 (information)), per hearing.
£62.59
(d)
Fee for time necessarily spent travelling to and from court, where the court is not in a town or place where the solicitor has a place of business, per quarter hour.
£7.28
PART VIIITABLE OF FEES ALLOWABLE TO SOLICITORS FOR ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE IN RELATION TO SECTION 27 AND SCHEDULE 6 OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT 2023
In this Table of Fees “the 2023 Act” means the National Security Act 2023.
1.
(a) Where a client to whom paragraph 15(6) of schedule 6 of the 2023 Act applies has exercised their right to consult a solicitor—
(i) if the solicitor attends the consultation in person, the fee under paragraph 3
(ii) if the solicitor attends the consultation other than in person, the fee under paragraph 4
(b) Where a client’s detention under section 27 of the 2023 Act is reviewed in accordance with paragraph 29 of schedule 6 of that Act and on the instruction of that client the solicitor makes representations to the review officer in accordance with paragraph 34 of that schedule of that Act—
(i) if the solicitor makes the representations in person—
(aa) where the solicitor was already in attendance in person at the time at which they were instructed to make the representations, an additional fee at the rate specified in paragraph 3(b)(ii);
(bb) where the solicitor was not already in attendance in person at the time at which they were instructed to make the representations, the fee under paragraph 3.
(ii) where the solicitor makes the representations other than in person, the fee under paragraph 4
(c) where a fee is claimed by virtue of this paragraph, a solicitor can only claim the higher rate, instead of the standard rate, if consultation takes place wholly or partly during an unsocial time.
2.
In this part—
“unsocial time” has the meaning given in Part IV of this schedule
3.
Inclusive fee, excluding travel, for personal attendance by a solicitor where the client consults the solicitor in person—
Standard Rate
Higher Rate
(a) where aggregate time engaged or waiting is 2 hours or less; or
£143.93
£ 191.42
(b) where aggregate time engaged or waiting is more than 2 hours—
(i) time engaged or waiting up to and including 4 hours; and
£250.29
£332.89
(ii) for each additional hour time engaged or waiting over 4 hours (or part thereof)
£62.59
£83.24
4.
Inclusive fee for a consultation conducted by a solicitor, otherwise than in person
£37.56
£49.95
5.
Fee for travelling time in relation to personal attendance by a solicitor—
(a) for travel time engaged of 2 hours or less, per half hour (or part thereof); and
£14.53
£19.33
(b) for travel time engaged of more than 2 hours, where authorised by the Board in advance, per half hour (or part thereof).
£14.53
£19.33
Amendment of the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Regulations 2002 6
1
The Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Regulations 20029 are amended as follows.
2
In regulation 2(1) (interpretation), after the definition of “assisted person” insert—
“carer support payment” means carer’s assistance given in accordance with the Carer’s Assistance (Carer Support Payment) (Scotland) Regulations 202310,
3
In regulation 33 (payments out of property recovered or preserved: exceptions), after sub-paragraph (a)(xxiv) insert—
xxv
by way of a carer support payment.
4
In schedule 2 (rules for computing disposable income), after paragraph 7(n), insert—
o
any carer support payment.
5
In schedule 3 (rules for computing disposable capital), after paragraph 8(j), insert—
k
any carer support payment.
Amendment of the Advice and Assistance (Assistance by Way of Representation) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 7
1
The Advice and Assistance (Assistance by Way of Representation) (Scotland) Regulations 200311 are amended as follows.
2
In regulation 3(n) (application of Part 2 of the Act: miscellaneous proceedings), after “2000” insert “, or under paragraph 37 or 44 of schedule 6 of the National Security Act 2023”
.
3
In regulation 9(c) (prescribed proceedings), after “2000” insert “, or under paragraph 37 or 44 of schedule 6 of the National Security Act 2023”
.
Amendment of the Criminal Legal Assistance (Fees and Information etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 8
In regulation 7(5) (single payment in summary criminal cases) of the Criminal Legal Assistance (Fees and Information etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 200812—
a
in sub-paragraph (ab), after head (ii), insert—
iii
paragraph 15(6) of schedule 6 of the National Security Act 2023 applies,
b
in sub-paragraph (ac), after “2000” insert “, or under paragraph 37 or 44 of schedule 6 of the National Security Act 2023,”
.
Amendment of the Criminal Legal Assistance (Duty Solicitors) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 9
In regulation 3 (duty solicitors: advice for suspects) of the Criminal Legal Assistance (Duty Solicitors) (Scotland) Regulations 201113—
a
omit “or”,
b
after “(entitlement to consult a solicitor)” where it second occurs, insert “, or paragraph 15(6) of schedule 6 of the National Security Act 2023 (entitlement to consult a solicitor)”
.
Amendment of the Children’s Legal Assistance (Scotland) Regulations 2013 10
1
The Children’s Legal Assistance (Scotland) Regulations 201314 are amended as follows.
2
In regulation 2(1) (interpretation), after the definition of “assisted person” insert—
“carer support payment” means carer’s assistance given in accordance with the Carer’s Assistance (Carer Support Payment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023,
3
In schedule 1 (assessment of disposable income for the purposes of children’s legal aid), after paragraph 5(p), insert—
q
any carer support payment.
4
In schedule 2 (assessment of disposable capital for the purposes of children’s legal aid), after paragraph 8(j), insert—
k
any carer support payment.
(This note is not part of the Regulations)