Legal aid costs rise by more than 5%

LEGAL aid costs have risen by more than 5 per cent over the last year, according to new figures.

Numbers released by the Scottish Legal Aid Board show the taxpayer-funded assistance was worth £130.8 million in 2019/20, compared with £123.7m in the previous year.

It enabled tens of thousands of people in Scotland to enforce or protect their rights, resolve disputes and defend themselves when the state and others took action against them.

Colin Lancaster, chief executive, said: “Legal aid makes a vital contribution to tackling inequalitiesby helping tens of thousands of often vulnerable people deal with a range of problems.

He added: “The £7.1m increased cost of legal assistance in 2019/20 clearly illustrates how our legal aid system is designed around case-by-case funding and is demand-led rather than restricted by a fixed budget.”