Committee publication · Correspondence · 19 May 2026
Correspondence from Alex Davies-Jones MP, former Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, dated 7 May 2026: Consultation on changes to legal aid fee schemes for inquests
From: Justice Committee
Summary
Alex Davies-Jones MP, Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, informs the Justice Committee Chair of a consultation launching 8 May 2026 on changes to Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 for inquest cases. The proposals aim to implement legal aid provisions in the Public Office (Accountability) Bill by creating a single fee scheme and enabling bereaved families to access publicly funded legal help when public authorities are named as interested persons.
Key findings
- Consultation on Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 to launch 8 May 2026, running for six weeks until 19 June 2026
- Proposals will implement legal aid provisions of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill to expand legal aid scope so all bereaved families can access publicly funded legal help and advocacy at inquests where public authority is named as interested person
- Move to single legal aid fee scheme for inquest legal help work combining initial advice, assistance, and remuneration rates for non-advocacy and advocacy legal aid under revised definition of other legal services
- Government intends to publish consultation response in late 2026
- Proposals designed to deliver more efficient and effective legal aid system for inquests and enable access for bereaved families
Tone
ProceduralTopics
legal-aidinquestsaccess-to-justicepublic-authority-accountability
Key actors
Alex Davies-Jones MP, Andy Slaughter MP, Ministry of Justice, Justice Select Committee
Notable line
“… all bereaved families will be able to access publicly funded legal help and advocacy at inquests where a public authority has been named as an interested person.”
Key Quotes
“This consultation will launch on Friday 8 May 2026, and run for six weeks, closing on 19 June”
“… all bereaved families will be able to access publicly funded legal help and advocacy at inquests where a public authority has been named as an interested person.”
“… we propose to move to a single legal aid fee scheme for inquest legal help work (initial advice and assistance); and include remuneration rates for non-advocacy legal aid alongside advocacy legal aid, under a revised definition of other legal services.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗