background to contracting
DESCRIPTION
Background to contracting. Colin Lancaster Director of Policy and Development Anne Dickson Policy Projects Manager. Scottish Legal Aid Board www.slab.org.uk. Contracting background. Provisions added to LA(S)Act 86 in 1997 Recommended in Strategic Review in 2004 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Scottish Legal Aid Boardwww.slab.org.uk
Background to contracting
Colin LancasterDirector of Policy and Development
Anne Dickson Policy Projects Manager
Contracting background
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Provisions added to LA(S)Act 86 in 1997 Recommended in Strategic Review in 2004 Broad approach considered by SLAB in 2008 Identified as potential means of addressing issues in
mental health and immigration/asylum in 2010/11 Identified as potential savings measure in response
to economic crisis in 2010 Included by SG in Sustainable Future paper in 2011 Current exercise focusing on criminal legal assistance
Contracting objectives
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Deliver substantial savings of in excess of £3m by 2014-15
Encourage firms to create efficient business models to deliver services and ensure that the market operates efficiently
Improve consistent and equitable access to justice Allow for better planning of service delivery in relation to
need Provide clarity and precision around specific types of
work, for example by ensuring that public sector service level requirements are met (including public sector equality duties).
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Scottish Government’s Purpose
To focus government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth
Scottish Government’s Strategic Objectives
Helping communities become safer and stronger places to live
Enabling the increasing of wealth through efficient public services
Improving the environment and its
sustainability
ScottishGovernment’s National Outcomes
We lives our lives safe from crime and
danger
We have strong and resilient
communities
We have tackled inequalities in Scottish
Society
Our public services are high quality,
responsive, and continually improving
We reduce the impactof our consumption
and production
Justice Strategy for Scotland Priorities
Widening access to justice and law
reform
Transforming civil and
administrative justice
Enhancing efficiency
National Outcomes
Current challenges - economics
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Scottish Legal Aid Board
All LCJBs
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Sols fees ex VAT 2007/08 2012/13Absolute change on 07/08 to 12/13 Change on 07/08
Argyll & Clyde 6,846,858 5,631,439 - 1,215,419 -18%Ayrshire 4,800,661 3,469,301 - 1,331,360 -28%Central 4,225,125 3,441,068 - 784,056 -19%Dumfries & Galloway 1,186,289 1,165,981 - 20,309 -2%Fife 3,681,790 3,251,728 - 430,062 -12%Glasgow & Strathkelvin 21,764,314 16,458,780 - 5,305,534 -24%Grampian 5,654,496 4,681,460 - 973,036 -17%Highlands & Islands 2,270,185 1,650,749 619,437 -27%Lanarkshire 6,993,202 6,233,709 - 759,493 -11%Lothian & Borders 10,573,766 8,687,481 - 1,886,285 -18%Tayside 6,602,307 4,602,114 - 2,000,193 -30%Total 74,640,867 59,273,809 - 15,367,058 -21%
Local level data
Scottish Legal Aid Board
• Local Data on levels of complaints and indictments and solicitor fees:
http://www.slab.org.uk/export/sites/default/common/documents/reform/Local_Criminal_Justice_Board_Data_Final.doc
• Additional data on average fee, and change in firm income over time:
http://www.slab.org.uk/export/sites/default/common/documents/profession/documents/Supplementary_LCJB_data.doc
Scottish Legal Aid Board
“There is no doubt in my mind that the High Street has to start with a huge programme of rationalisation. One aspect of the recession has been the sadly predictable rise in the number of sole practitioners. Understandable, but if there was ever a time for firms to get together and enjoy economies of scale it is now.
My home town of Paisley has about 90,000 people and well over 30 firms. That’s unsustainable. That's 30 cash rooms, receptions and sets of overheads. I am not saying that the same number of solicitors can't make a living-but in a much reduced number of practice units. Ayr is worse-30 firms in a town of about 40,000 people. Solicitors are going to realise they are collectively employing hundreds of people they can no longer properly afford.”
18th March 2013
Options for contracting 1
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Options for contracting 2
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Issues to consider
• Quality• Geographic scope• Subject scope• Choice• Capacity and coverage – firm numbers/structures• Procurement capacity• Contract length
Scottish Legal Aid Board
http://www.slab.org.uk/providers/reforms/criminal/Contracting.html