Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986

Part VIS Miscellaneous

Proceedings in relation to childrenS

F1 29 Legal aid in respect of certain proceedings relating to children.S

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contempt of courtS

30 Legal aid in contempt proceedings.S

(1)Where a person is liable to be dealt with for contempt of court during the course of or in connection with any proceedings, legal aid shall be available to him on an application being made to the court if it is satisfied—

(a)after consideration of the person’s financial circumstances that the expenses of the proceedings for contempt of court cannot be met without undue hardship to him or his dependants; and

(b)that in all the circumstances of the case it is in the interests of justice that legal aid should be made available to him.

(2)In making legal aid available under subsection (1) above, the court may order in any case that the legal aid shall consist of representation by counsel only or, in a court where solicitors have a right of audience, by a solicitor only; and, notwithstanding section 31 of this Act, the court may assign for the purpose any counsel or solicitor who is within the precincts of the court at the time when the order is made.

(3)[F2Subsections (2)(a) and (c), (2A) to (4) and (6) of] section 25 of this Act shall apply in relation to legal aid in connection with an appeal against a decision of a court in proceedings for contempt of court as [F3they apply] in relation to legal aid in connection with an appeal against conviction, sentence [F4, other disposal] or acquittal in criminal proceedings, and in such application—

[F5(za)in subsection (2a) of that section, the reference to the High Court shall include a reference to the Court of Session;]

(a)for the reference in subsection (4) of that section to criminal legal aid having been made available under section 23 [F6, 23A] or 24 of this Act there shall be substituted a reference to legal aid having been made available under subsection (1) above; and

(b)in subsection [F7(6)] of that section the reference to the nobile officium of the High Court of Justiciary shall include a reference to the nobile officium of the Court of Session.

(4)Subject to subsection (2) above legal aid made available under this section shall consist of representation by a solicitor and [F8, where appropriate,] by counsel and shall include all such assistance as is usually given by a solicitor or counsel in the steps preliminary to or incidental to proceedings for contempt of court or, in the case of legal aid made available under subsection (3) above, any appeal in connection with such proceedings.

Solicitors and counselS

31 Solicitors and counsel.S

(1)[F9Subject to subsection (1A) below,] a person to whom legal aid or advice and assistance is made available may select—

(a)the solicitor to advise or act for him; and

(b)if the case requires counsel, [F10or a solicitor holding rights of audience by virtue of section 25A (rights of audience) of the Solicitor (Scotland) Act 1980, his counsel or such a solicitor],

and he shall be entitled to make the selection himself.

[F11(1A)Subsection (1) above is subject to—

(a)section 25A(3) of this Act;

[F12(aa)section 28M(3),]

(b)section 30(2) of this Act;

(c)regulations made under section 28A(6) of this Act;

(d) regulations made under section 33A(4) of this Act; F13 . . .

[F14(da)regulations made under section 33B(4),]

(e)regulations made under subsection (9) below [F15; and

(f)[F16sections 92(2), (2B)(b), (2D) and (2E) [F17, 150A(4)(b), (6) and (7)] and] 288D of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c.46)]

[F18and does not apply where the person is being provided with criminal legal assistance [F19or children's legal assistance] by a solicitor employed by the Board under section 26 and 27 of this Act]]

(2)Nothing in subsection (1) above shall prejudice any right of a solicitor or advocate to refuse or give up a case or to entrust it to another solicitor or advocate.

(3)The [F20Board] may decide to exclude any advocate or solicitor either from being selected under subsection (1) above, or from giving advice and assistance to or from acting for a person to whom legal aid is made available on the ground that there is good reason for excluding him arising out of—

(a)his conduct when acting or selected to act for persons to whom legal aid or advice and assistance is made available;

(b)his professional conduct generally;

(c)in the case of a member of a firm of solicitors or a director of an incorporated practice, such conduct on the part of any person who is for the time being a member of the firm or a director of the practice.

[F21(d)in the case of a solicitor investor in a licensed legal services provider, such conduct on the part of any person who is for the time being a solicitor investor in it.]

(4)The [F22Board] may decide to exclude a solicitor or advocate under subsection (3) above in respect of any specified period or without limit of time.

(5)A solicitor or advocate who is aggrieved by a decision of the [F23Board] under subsection (3) above may appeal against his exclusion or the period of such exclusion to the Court of Session; and the court in determining such an appeal may make such order as it thinks fit.

F24(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7)Except in so far as expressly provided under this Act, the fact that the services of counsel or a solicitor are given by way of legal aid or advice and assistance shall not affect the relationship between or the respective rights in that connection of counsel, solicitor and client.

(8)The Board may arrange that, in such circumstances as it may specify, a solicitor shall be available for the purposes of providing legal aid or advice and assistance.

(9)Where a solicitor is available as is mentioned in subsection (8) above, the Secretary of State may, by regulations made under this section, provide that—

(a)subsection (1) above shall not apply; and

(b)[F25Subject to subsection (11) below,] legal aid or, as the case may be, advice and assistance shall be provided only by the solicitor so made available.

F26(10). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F27(11)Nothing in subsection (9)(b) above shall enable the Secretary of State to make regulations authorising the granting of legal aid only to solicitors holding rights of audience under section 25A (rights of audience) of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980.]

32 Restriction on payment and employment of solicitor or counsel.S

Where legal aid is available to a person in connection with any proceedings (whether legal aid is available in connection with all or only part of the proceedings)—

(a)the solicitor or counsel providing legal aid shall not take any payment in respect of any advice given or anything done in connection with such proceedings during any period when legal aid was so available except for such payment as may be made, in accordance with this Act . . . F28; and

(b)except as is mentioned in section 31(2) of this Act, no solicitor or counsel other than the solicitor or counsel referred to in paragraph (a) above shall advise or act for him in connection with the proceedings.

33 Fees and outlays of solicitors and counsel.S

(1)[F29Subject to subsections (3A) and (3B) below,] any solicitor or counsel who acts for any person by providing legal aid or advice and assistance under this Act shall be paid out of the Fund in accordance with section 4(2)(a) of this Act in respect of any fees or outlays properly incurred by him in so acting.

[F30(1A)A registered organisation shall be paid out of the Fund in accordance with section 4(2)(a) of this Act in respect of any fees or outlays properly incurred by it in respect of the advisers it approves providing advice and assistance under this Act.]

(2)The Secretary of State may, by regulations made under this section, make such provision as seems to him appropriate in respect of the fees and outlays of solicitors and counsel [F31and, in respect of advice and assistance as mentioned in paragraph (b) of this subsection, advisers]—

(a)acting in any proceedings for a person to whom legal aid has been made available; or

(b)providing advice and assistance in accordance with Part II of this Act.

(3)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2) above, regulations made under this section may—

(a)prescribe the work in respect of which fees may be charged;

(b)prescribe rates or scales of payment of fees and outlays allowable and the conditions under which such fees and outlays may be allowed;

(c)provide for the assessment and taxation of fees and outlays, and for the review of any such assessmen or taxation, either by the Secretary of State or by any other person;

(d)prescribe general principles to be applied in connection with any such assessment, taxation or review;

(e)prescribe forms to be used for the purposes of any regulations made under this section; and

(f)make different provision for different cases.

[F32(3A)The Secretary of State may by regulations under this section prescribe fixed payments to be made to a solicitor in respect of—

(a)his professional services in providing criminal legal assistance; and

(b)such outlays as may be so prescribed.

[F33(3AA)Regulations amending or replacing regulations made under subsection (3A) above may, for the purpose specified in subsection (3AB) below, make provision as to fixed payments in relation to criminal legal assistance provided in relation to proceedings commenced before and continuing as at the date of the making or coming into force of the amendment or replacement of the regulations.

(3AB)The purpose referred to in subsection (3AA) above is that of ensuring that persons to whom fixed payment criminal legal assistance is being provided are not, by reason of the amount of the fixed payments payable in respect of that criminal legal assistance under the regulations as they have effect immediately before the coming into force of the amendment or replacement of the regulations, deprived of the right to a fair trial.

(3AC)In subsection (3AB) above “fixed payment criminal legal assistance” and “fixed payments” have respectively the meanings given by subsection (3E) below;]

(3B)A solicitor who provides any criminal legal assistance in respect of which a fixed payment has been prescribed in regulations made under subsection (3A) above shall not be entitled to any other payment out of the Fund in respect of the professional services and outlays mentioned in that subsection, but shall be entitled to reimbursement of any other outlays which he has properly incurred.]

[F34(3BA)But subsection (3B) does not preclude a solicitor from being paid out of the Fund under section 4(2)(ad) following a claim for interim payment made under section 33ZB in respect of the professional services and outlays mentioned in subsection (3A).]

[F35(3C)The Scottish Ministers may, F36... for the purpose of enabling the Board to ensure that a person to whom fixed payment criminal legal assistance is provided is not, for the reason specified in subsection (3D) below, deprived of the right to a fair trial, by regulations under this subsection, provide that—

(a)in such circumstances; and

(b)under such conditions,

as may be prescribed by the regulations, a solicitor who provides such criminal legal assistance shall, instead of receiving fixed payments, be paid out of the Fund in accordance with regulations made under subsections (2) and (3) above.

(3D)The reason referred to in subsection (3C) above is the amount of the fixed payments payable for the criminal legal assistance provided.

(3E)In subsection (3C) above—

• “fixed payment criminal legal assistance” means criminal legal assistance in respect of which fixed payments are prescribed under subsection (3A) above;

• “fixed payments” means fixed payments so prescribed.

(3F)Regulations made under subsection (3C) above shall provide that it is for the Board to determine whether any prescribed circumstances exist and whether any prescribed conditions are met.

(3G)Circumstances may be prescribed under subsection (3C)(a) above by reference to such factors as the Scottish Ministers think fit.

(3H)The conditions which may be prescribed under subsection (3C)(b) above include those which stipulate that a solicitor providing criminal legal assistance—

(a)applies to the Board to exercise its power of determination under subsection (3F) above;

(b)does so in such manner and form as the Board may specify and at as early a stage in the provision of the criminal legal assistance as is reasonably practicable; and

(c)keeps proper records of all professional services provided by way of and outlays incurred in the provision of that criminal legal assistance, whether before or after the exercise of that power of determination.

(3J)Regulations may be made under subsection (3C) above so as to relate to criminal legal assistance provided in relation to proceedings commenced before and continuing as at the date of coming into force of section 7 of the Convention Rights (Compliance) (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 7), and regulations so relating may disapply any condition which would otherwise apply under subsection (3C)(b) above.

(3K)The Board shall establish a procedure under which any person—

(a)whose solicitor’s application under subsection (3H) above has been refused; or

(b)on whose solicitor’s application under that subsection the Board has made a determination which is such that the solicitor will not be paid out of the Fund in accordance with regulations made under subsections (2) and (3) above,

may apply to the Board for review of that refusal or determination.]

(4)In subsection (1) above the reference to acting for a person includes, in relation to a solicitor, a reference to acting for such a person on the instructions of another solicitor.

(5)Where a person is in receipt of legal aid in connection with any proceedings, any expenses incurred in connection with the proceedings which would, if he were not in receipt of legal aid, be paid, in the first instance, by or on behalf of the solicitor acting for him, shall be so paid.

[F37(6)Where a sum is paid out of the Fund under section 4(2)(ad) in connection with the provision of legal aid or advice and assistance, that sum must be deducted from the sum payable to the solicitor or counsel under section 4(2)(a) in connection with the provision of the legal aid or advice and assistance.]

[F3833ZARegulations about contributions for criminal legal assistanceS

(1)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision in connection with the amount, determination and collection of any contribution payable under section 11 (in so far as relating to criminal matters) or section 11A, 25AA or 25AC.

(2)Regulations made under subsection (1) may, in particular—

(a)make provision permitting a lower contribution to be payable where otherwise the person liable to pay the contribution, or the dependants of such person, would suffer undue hardship,

(b)make provision for determining appropriate contributions where the person is in receipt of criminal legal assistance in respect of two or more distinct proceedings,

(c)except in relation to section 25AA, specify whether it is for the Board or the solicitor providing the assistance to determine the amount of, or collect, a contribution,

(d)specify how a person's contributions are to be transferred or accounted for in relation to proceedings which are—

(i)instituted by way of summary complaint but which are subsequently dealt with under solemn procedure, or

(ii)instituted by way of indictment but which are subsequently dealt under summary procedure,

(e)make provision about the payment of contributions by instalments,

(f)make provision requiring the Board to make arrangements to provide to solicitors a service of collecting contributions payable to solicitors on their behalf.

(3)Regulations made under subsection (1) containing provision made in pursuance of subsection (2)(f) may include provision about the operation of the service, including provision—

(a)regulating the arrangements for remitting to a solicitor the amount of a contribution (or an instalment of a contribution) following its collection,

(b)enabling or requiring, or, where enabled or required, regulating, the imposition by the Board of charges for the recovery of any reasonable costs the Board incurs in connection with the provision of the service to a solicitor.

(4)Regulations made under subsection (1) may provide for different provision in relation to different cases or classes of case.

(5) In this section “the solicitor” means the solicitor by whom any criminal legal aid is being provided or, where it is provided by counsel, the solicitor on whose instruction counsel provides it.]

[F39Interim payments to solicitors and counselS

33ZBClaim for interim paymentS

(1)A claim for interim payment may be submitted to the Board by—

(a)a solicitor who is acting for a person by providing legal aid or advice and assistance under this Act,

(b)counsel who is acting for a person by providing legal aid under this Act.

(2)A claim for interim payment must—

(a)be submitted in the manner specified by the Board,

(b)include a declaration from the solicitor or (as the case may be) counsel that the sum claimed does not exceed the sum that the solicitor or counsel would expect to be paid under section 4(2)(a) in connection with the provision of the legal aid or advice and assistance.

(3)If a claim for interim payment is submitted to the Board, the sum claimed must be paid out of the Fund in accordance with section 4(2)(ad) to the solicitor or counsel who submitted the claim.

(4)But the Board may reject the claim if it appears to it that the sum claimed is likely to exceed the sum it would expect to be payable to the solicitor or counsel under section 4(2)(a) in connection with the provision of the legal aid or advice and assistance.

(5)In forming an expectation about the sum payable under section 4(2)(a), for the purposes of subsections (2) and (4), no account is to be taken of the deduction that would be made under section 33(6) if the claim for interim payment were met.

33ZCRecovery where interim payment excessiveS

(1)This section applies where—

(a)a sum has been paid out of the Fund under section 4(2)(ad) to a solicitor or counsel while providing legal aid or advice and assistance, and

(b)the solicitor or counsel is no longer providing the legal aid or advice and assistance.

(2)Where the sum paid out of the Fund exceeds the sum that would, but for section 33(6), be payable under section 4(2)(a) in connection with the provision of the legal aid or advice and assistance, the solicitor or (as the case may be) counsel is liable to the Board for the difference between the sums.

(3)A firm is jointly and severally liable for a sum owed by a solicitor to the Board by virtue of subsection (2) if the interim payment referred to in that subsection was made to the firm on the solicitor’s instruction.

(4)Where—

(a)a firm is jointly and severally liable to the Board for a sum by virtue of subsection (3), and

(b)a separate sum is due to be paid out of the Fund to the firm, on the instruction of a solicitor,

the Board may deduct all or part of the sum mentioned in paragraph (a) from the sum mentioned in paragraph (b).

(5)This section is without prejudice to any other enactment or rule of law under which the difference between the sums mentioned in subsection (2) may be recovered.]

F40 [ Contracts for the provision of criminal legal assistance S

F41 33A Contracts for the provision of criminal legal assistance.S

(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations made under this section empower the Board to enter into contracts with registered firms for the provision by registered solicitors connected with those firms of criminal legal assistance.

(2)Regulations under this section may prescribe—

(a)the procedures to be followed by the Board in awarding any such contract; and

(b)subject to subsection (3) below, any terms and conditions which are to be included in any such contract.

(3)Regulations under this section shall provide that any contract entered into by virtue of this section shall include a provision that, in the event of the termination of the contract, or a breach of it by the registered firm concerned, the Board may—

(a)withhold payments under the contract; and

(b)require the firm to secure the transfer of—

(i)any work currently being undertaken by any solicitor connected with them for any client by way of criminal legal assistance; and

(ii)notwithstanding any lien to which any such solicitor might otherwise be entitled, any documents connected with any such work,

to a registered solicitor.

(4)Regulations under this section may provide that where the Board has by virtue of this section entered into contracts with any registered firms for the provision of criminal legal assistance in any area, then, unless it seems to the Board to be inappropriate in a particular case, any person seeking such assistance in that area shall be required to instruct a registered solicitor connected with one of those firms.

(5)Any money due to a firm under a contract made by virtue of this section shall be paid to the firm—

(a)firstly, out of any amount payable by the client in accordance with section 11(2) [F42, 11A(2) or 25AC(3)] of this Act;

(b)secondly, in priority to all other debts, out of any expenses which by virtue of an order of a criminal court are payable to that client by any other person in respect of the matter in connection with which the criminal legal assistance was given; and

(c)thirdly, by the Board out of the Fund.

[F43(5A)In subsection (5), the reference to an amount payable by the client does not include an amount which it is for the Board to collect (whether under section 11A(3), section 25AC(4)(a), or any regulations made under section 33ZA(1)).]

(6)For the purposes of sections 32 and 33 of this Act, the money paid to a firm, as provided in subsection (5) above, in respect of a contract made by virtue of this section shall be taken to be a payment made in accordance with this Act, and no solicitor connected with such a firm shall be entitled to any other payment out of the Fund in respect of any work done by him by virtue of such a contract.]

[F44Contracts for the provision of children's legal assistanceS

33BContracts for the provision of children's legal assistanceS

(1)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations made under this section empower the Board to enter into contracts with relevant firms for the provision by relevant solicitors connected with those firms of children's legal assistance.

(2)Regulations under this section may prescribe—

(a)the procedures to be followed by the Board in awarding any such contract, and

(b)subject to subsection (3), any terms and conditions which are to be included in any such contract.

(3)Regulations under this section must provide that any contract entered into by virtue of this section must include a provision that, in the event of the termination of the contract, or a breach of it by the relevant firm concerned, the Board may—

(a)withhold payments under the contract, and

(b)require the firm to secure the transfer to a relevant solicitor of—

(i)any work currently being undertaken by any solicitor connected with them for any client by way of children's legal assistance, and

(ii)notwithstanding any lien to which any such solicitor might otherwise be entitled, any documents connected with any such work.

(4)Regulations under this section may provide that where the Board has by virtue of this section entered into contracts with any relevant firms for the provision of children's legal assistance in any area, then, unless it seems to the Board to be inappropriate in a particular case, any person seeking such assistance in that area is to be required to instruct a relevant solicitor connected with one of those firms.

(5)Any money due to a firm under a contract made by virtue of this section is to be paid to the firm—

(a)firstly, out of any amount payable by the client in accordance with section 11(2),

(b)secondly, by the Board out of the Fund.

(6)For the purposes of sections 32 and 33, the money paid to a firm, as provided in subsection (5) above, in respect of a contract made by virtue of this section is to be taken to be a payment made in accordance with this Act, and no solicitor connected with such a firm is entitled to any other payment out of the Fund in respect of any work done by the solicitor by virtue of such a contract.

(7)In this section—

• “ relevant firm ” means a firm included in the register maintained under section 28M(1),

• “relevant solicitor” means a solicitor included in the register maintained under section 28M(1).]

InformationS

34 Confidentiality of information.S

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, no information furnished for the purposes of this Act to the Board or to any person acting on its behalf shall be disclosed—

(a)in the case of such information furnished by, or by any person acting for, a person seeking or receiving legal aid or advice and assistance, without the consent of the person seeking or receiving legal aid or advice and assistance; or

(b)in the case of such information furnished otherwise than as mentioned in paragraph (a) above, without the consent of the person who furnished it,

and any person who, in contravention of this subsection, discloses any information obtained by him when employed by, or acting on behalf of, the Board shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(2)Subsection (1) above shall not apply to the disclosure of information—

(a)for the purpose of the proper performance or facilitating the proper performance by the Secretary of State, the Board, any court or tribunal or by any other person or body of duties or functions under this Act;

[F45(aa) for the purpose of any determination or investigation by the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission under the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 5) (“the 2007 Act”);]

(b)for the purpose of investigating, prosecuting or determining any [F46conduct complaint, remitted by the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission under section [F476(2)(a)] or 15(5)(a) of the 2007 Act]—

(i)against a solicitor, by the Law Society or the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal;

(ii)against an advocate, by the Faculty of Advocates;

(c)for the purpose of investigating or prosecuting any offence or for the report of any proceedings in relation to such an offence;

[F48(d)for the purposes of any investigation by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman under the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (asp 11)];

[F49(e)for the purposes of an inquiry by the Scottish Commission for Human Rights under section 8 of the Scottish Commission for Human Rights Act 2006 (asp 16)][F50;

(f)for the purposes of, or required by virtue of, section 50 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 13)];

[F51(g)in pursuance of a requirement made under section 10(1) of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 10).]

(3)For the purposes of this section, information furnished to any person in his capacity as counsel or a solicitor by or on behalf of a person seeking or receiving legal aid or advice and assistance is not information furnished to the Board or to a person acting on its behalf.

35 False information etc.S

(1)If any person seeking or receiving legal aid or advice and assistance—

(a)wilfully fails to comply with any regulations as to the information to be furnished by him; or

(b)for the purpose of obtaining legal aid or advice and assistance knowingly makes any false statement or false representation,

he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 60 days or to both.

(2)Notwithstanding [F52section 136 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995], proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) above may be commenced at any time within 2 years from the date of the commission of the offence or within 6 months from the date when evidence sufficient in the opinion of the Lord Advocate to justify proceedings comes to his knowledge, whichever period is the shorter; and for the purposes of this subsection a certificate by the Lord Advocate as to the date on which such evidence came to his knowledge shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.

[F5335A Power of Board to require information.S

(1)The Board may, for the purpose of determining whether—

(a)a solicitor or any employee of him or of his firm may be committing a criminal offence in connection with criminal legal assistance; or

(b)a solicitor may be seeking, in relation to criminal legal assistance, to recover from the Fund money to which he is not entitled, as, for example, by performing unnecessary work; or

(c)a registered firm or solicitor is or may not be complying with the code,

require any solicitor or firm to produce such information and documents relating wholly or partly to the provision of criminal legal assistance as it may specify, at such time and place as it may specify.

[F54(1A)The Board may, for the purpose of determining whether—

(a)a solicitor, an employee of the solicitor or an employee of the solicitor's firm may be committing a criminal offence in connection with children's legal assistance,

(b)a solicitor may be seeking, in relation to children's legal assistance, to recover from the Fund money to which the solicitor is not entitled, as, for example, by performing unnecessary work, or

(c)a solicitor or firm whose name appears on the register maintained under section 28M(1) is or may not be complying with the code of practice under section 28N for the time being in force,

require the solicitor or firm to produce such information and documents relating wholly or partly to the provision of children's legal assistance as it may specify, at such time and place as it may specify.]

(2)If it appears to the Board that there is good reason to do so, it may authorise any of its officers to require any solicitor or firm to produce forthwith any such information or documents as are mentioned in subsection (1) [F55or (1A)] above.

(3)An officer of the Board acting under subsection (2) above shall, if requested to do so, produce evidence of his authorisation by the Board.

(4)The power under this section to require production of information and documents includes power—

(a)to require any person, who is a present or past partner or employee of any such solicitor or firm and who appears to the Board or one of its officers to have any information or documents, to produce them;

(b)if any documents are produced—

(i)to take copies of them or extracts from them; and

(ii)to require the person producing them, or any other person who is a present or past partner or employee of the solicitor or firm in question, to provide an explanation of them;

(c)if any document or information is held other than in legible form, to require the production of a copy of it in legible form; and

(d)if documents are not produced, to require the person who was required to produce them to state, to the best of his knowledge and belief, where they are.

(5)Where any person claims a lien over any documents required to be produced under this section the production is without prejudice to the lien.

(6)Any person who is required under this section to produce information or documents shall, notwithstanding any duty of confidentiality, comply with that requirement; and if he fails to comply he shall be guilty of an offence and liable—

(a)on conviction on indictment, to a fine; and

(b)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.

(7)Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (6) above in respect of a requirement to produce documents, it shall be a defence for him to prove that they were not in his possession or under his control and that it was not reasonably practicable for him to comply with the requirement.

(8)No information or documents obtained by the Board by virtue of this section or section 35B of this Act shall be used by it or by any of its employees for any purpose other than the purposes mentioned in subsection (1) above.

(9)Section 34 of this Act applies in relation to a contravention of subsection (8) above as it applies in relation to a contravention of subsection (1) of that section.]

[F5635AAInformation about legal servicesS

(1)For the purpose mentioned in subsection (4)(a), each of the bodies mentioned in subsection (3)(a), (b) and (c) must provide the Board with such information as the Board may reasonably require.

(2)For the purpose mentioned in subsection (4)(b)—

(a)each of the bodies mentioned in subsection (3)(a) and (b) must—

(i)inform the Board whenever it upholds a conduct complaint about a solicitor or (as the case may be) an advocate, and

(ii)give the Board a summary of the relevant facts,

(b)the body mentioned in subsection (3)(d) must—

(i)inform the Board whenever it upholds a services complaint about a solicitor or an advocate, and

(ii)give the Board a summary of the relevant facts.

(3)The bodies are—

(a)the Law Society,

(b)the Faculty of Advocates,

(c)the Scottish Court Service,

(d)the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission.

(4)The purposes are the Board's exercise of its functions under—

(a)section 1(2A),

(b)section 31(3).

(5)In subsection (2), a reference to a services or a conduct complaint is to be construed in accordance with Part 1 of the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007.]

F57Power of entryS

F5835B Power of Board to enter premises and investigate.S

(1)Where a sheriff is satisfied, by evidence on oath given on behalf of the Board by a person authorised by the Board for that purpose, that there are reasonable grounds for believing that—

(a)a solicitor or any employee of him or his firm may be committing a criminal offence in connection with criminal legal assistance; or

(b)a solicitor may be seeking, in relation to criminal legal assistance, to recover from the Fund money to which he is not entitled, as, for example, by performing unnecessary work; or

(c)a registered firm or solicitor may not be complying with the code; [F59or

(ca)a solicitor whose name appears on the register maintained under section 28M(1) may not be complying with the code of practice under section 28N for the time being in force; or]

(d)there are on any premises documents the production of which has been required under section 35A of this Act and which have not been produced in accordance with that requirement,

he may issue a warrant under this section to a person authorised for that purpose by the Board.

(2)A person holding a warrant under this section may—

(a)search the premises named in the warrant;

(b)[F60in the case mentioned in subsection (2A),] take possession of any documents which appear to him to relate, wholly or partly, to any criminal legal assistance provided in or from those premises;

[F61(ba)in the case mentioned in subsection (2B), take possession of any documents which appear to him to relate, wholly or partly, to any children's legal assistance provided in or from those premises;]

(c)take copies of any such documents;

(d)take any other steps which appear to him to be necessary for preserving those documents or preventing their destruction or interference with them; and

(e)require any person named in the warrant to provide an explanation of the documents or to state where they may be found.

[F62(2A)The case mentioned in subsection (2)(b) is where the warrant is issued in pursuance of—

(a)paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1), or

(b)paragraph (d) of subsection (1) where the requirement to produce the documents was made under subsection (1) of section 35A.

(2B)The case mentioned in subsection (2)(ba) is where the warrant is issued in pursuance of—

(a)paragraph (ca) of subsection (1), or

(b)paragraph (d) of subsection (1) where the requirement to produce the documents was made under subsection (1A) of section 35A.]

(3)The duty to produce documents and to provide explanations applies notwithstanding any duty of confidentiality, but where any person claims a lien over any documents the production is without prejudice to that lien.

(4)A warrant under this section shall continue in force for the period of one month from the date when it is issued.

(5)The Board may retain any documents which it has obtained under this section for—

(a)a period of not more than 12 months; or

(b)where, within that period, proceedings to which the documents are relevant are commenced by the Board, the Law Society or a prosecutor, until the conclusion of those proceedings.

(6)Any person who intentionally obstructs the execution of a warrant issued under this section or who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any requirement imposed in accordance with subsection (2)(e) above shall be guilty of an offence, and liable—

(a)on conviction on indictment, to a fine; and

(b)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.

F63Suspension of payments to solicitorS

F6435C Suspension of payments to solicitor.S

(1)Where it appears to the Board that any solicitor has, in connection with the provision of criminal legal assistance, acted in such a way as to justify action being taken against him by the Law Society or the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal it shall refer the matter to either of those bodies so that they can consider whether to take action under section 31(3) of this Act.

(2)Where it appears to the Board that any solicitor may have been guilty of a criminal offence it shall refer the matter to the police or the procurator fiscal, so that they can consider whether any criminal offence may have been committed.

(3)Where the Board refers a matter to any of the bodies mentioned in subsections (1) or (2) above, it may disclose to that body any information or documents which it has obtained from the solicitor concerned under this Act.

(4)Where the Board has referred a matter to any of the bodies mentioned in subsections (1) or (2) above it may—

(a)suspend the solicitor concerned from providing criminal legal assistance; and

(b)withhold payment of any fees due to him in respect of such work,

pending the outcome of the investigation by the body or bodies to which the matter has been referred.

(5)A solicitor who is suspended from providing criminal legal assistance under subsection (4)(a) above shall, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Board, transfer—

(a)any work currently being undertaken by him for any client by way of criminal legal assistance; and

(b)notwithstanding any lien to which he might otherwise be entitled, any documents connected with any such work,

to a solicitor (or, where registration is in force, a registered solicitor).

Regulations and rules of courtS

36 Regulations.S

(1)The Secretary of State may make such regulations under this section as appear to him necessary or desirable for giving effect to, or for preventing abuses of, this Act; and regulations made under this section may make different provision—

(a)in relation to legal aid and to advice and assistance respectively; and

(b)for different cases or classes of case.

(2)Without prejudice to subsection (1) above or to any other provision of this Act authorising the making of regulations, regulations made under this section may—

(a)make provision as to the exercise by the Board of its functions under this Act;

(b)substitute different amounts for any of the amounts specified in section 8, 10(2), 11(2), [F6511A(1),] 15 [F66, 17(2) and 25AC(2)] of this Act [F67and the power to substitute different amounts for the [F68amounts specified in sections 10(2), 11A(1) and 25AC(2) and, in so far as relating to criminal matters, sections 8 and 11(2)] of this Act includes power to substitute different amounts in relation to different cases or classes of case];

(c)make provision as to the proceedings which are or are not to be treated as distinct proceedings for the purposes of legal aid, and as to the matters which are or are not to be treated as distinct matters for the purposes of advice and assistance;

[F69(ca)make provision allowing the Board to determine—

(i)the matters which, subject to subsection (2A), are or are not to be treated as distinct matters for the purposes of advice and assistance;

(ii)on a case by case basis, matters which may be treated as if they were distinct matters for the purposes of advice and assistance;]

(d)make provision as to the manner of making applications for legal aid or advice and assistance under this Act and the time when such applications may be made and disposed of;

(e)make provision as to the information to be furnished by a person seeking or receiving legal aid or advice and assistance;

(f)make provision as to the cases in which a person may be refused legal aid or advice and assistance by reason of his conduct when seeking or receiving legal aid or advice and assistance (whether in the same or in a different matter or proceedings);

(g)make provision in connection with the recovery of sums due to the Fund and making effective the priorities conferred by this Act on the payment of such sums out of awards of expenses or property recovered or preserved for a person receiving legal aid, including—

(i)provision in connection with the enforcement (by whatever means) for the benefit of the Fund of any award of expenses or any agreement as to expenses in favour of a person who has received legal aid; and

(ii)provision making a solicitor’s right to payment out of the Fund dependent, in whole or in part, on his performing any duties imposed on him by regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph;

(h)modify any provision of this Act so far as appears to the Secretary of State necessary to meet any of the special circumstances mentioned in subsection (3) below.

[F70(2A)Regulations made under this section which include provision as mentioned in subsection (2)(ca)(i) must include provision to the effect that—

(a)any determination by the Board as to the matters which are or are not to be so treated as distinct matters may only be made after consultation with the Law Society;

(b)where a matter has been determined by the Board to be so treated as a distinct matter, the Board may not determine that the matter is no longer to be so treated unless the Scottish Ministers consent.]

(3)The special circumstances referred to in subsection (2)(h) above are where a person seeking or receiving legal aid or advice and assistance—

(a)is not resident in Scotland;

(b)is concerned in a representative, fiduciary or official capacity;

[F71(bb)is [F72applying for an order under section 53(1), 57(1), 60(1), 62(1) or 63(1) of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 4) (in relation to himself or any other adult) or is otherwise] concerned as claiming or having an interest in the property, financial affairs or personal welfare of an adult under [F73that Act];]

(c)is concerned jointly with or has the same interest as other persons, whether receiving legal aid or advice and assistance or not;

(d)has available to him rights and facilities making it unnecessary for him to take advantage of the provisions of this Act, or has a reasonable expectation of receiving financial or other help from a body of which he is a member;

(e)seeks legal aid or advice and assistance in a matter of special urgency;

(f)begins to receive legal aid or advice and assistance after having consulted a solicitor in the ordinary way with respect to the same proceedings, or ceases to receive legal aid or advice and assistance before the proceedings in question are finally settled;

(g)has, while receiving legal aid or advice and assistance, any change of circumstances such that, had the changed circumstances subsisted at the time the application for legal aid or advice and assistance was made, the original disposal of the application would have been likely to have been affected.

(4)Regulations made under this section may also modify this Act or any instrument having effect under this Act (including so much of any of those provisions as specifies a sum of money) for the purposes of its application—

(a)in cases where such modification appears to the Secretary of State necessary for the purpose of fulfilling any obligation imposed on the United Kingdom or Her Majesty’s government therein by any international agreement; or

(b)in relation to proceedings for securing the recognition or enforcement in Scotland of judgments given outside the United Kingdom for whose recognition or enforcement in the United Kingdom provision is made by any international agreement.

37 Parliamentary procedure.S

(1)Regulations under this Act shall be made by the Secretary of State by statutory instrument and, except as provided in subsection (2) below, shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(2)No regulations shall be made under section 7, [F748A(1),] 9, 11(2), 13(4), 17(2), 21(2), 24(4)[F75, 28C(3), 28K(2), 28L(1) or (8),] [F7628LA(1),] [F7728LB(1),] [F78, 33ZA(1)] or 36(2)(b) of this Act unless a draft of it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

F79(3). . ..

38 Rules of court.S

(1)The court may by act of adjournal or, as the case may be, by act of sederunt—

(a)regulate the procedure of any court or tribunal in relation to legal aid, and in particular may make provision as to the cases in which and the extent to which a person receiving legal aid may be required to find caution, and the manner in which caution in such cases may be found;

(b)make provision as to the cases in which a person may be treated as having disentitled himself to a continuance of legal aid by his conduct in connection with his receipt of legal aid;

(c)make provision as to the apportionment of sums recovered or recoverable by virtue of any award of expenses made generally with respect to proceedings or matters which are to be treated as distinct by virtue of regulations made under section 36(2)(c) of this Act;

(d)make provision as to the proceedings which are or are not to be treated as having been instituted by the legally assisted person for the purposes of section 19(3)(b) of this Act;

(e)regulate the procedure to be followed in connection with an order under section 19 of this Act, in particular to enable the Board to be heard in connection with such an order.

[F80(1A)In subsection (1)(a) above, the reference to any court or tribunal shall be construed, except in relation to criminal proceedings, in accordance with section 13(6) of this Act.]

(2)The court may by act of adjournal or, as the case may be, by act of sederunt restrict the fees to be paid to auditors of court, messengers-at-arms, sheriff officers and shorthand writers in any case where such fees are payable in the first instance by or on behalf of a person receiving legal aid to such proportion thereof as may be provided for the time being.

(3)Before making rules of court regulating the procedure of any court or tribunal, the court shall, so far as practicable, consult [F81the Scottish Civil Justice Council,] any rules council or similar body by whom or on whose advice rules of procedure for the court or tribunal may, apart from this Act, be made or whose consent or concurrence is required to any such rules so made.

(4)In this section “the court” means in relation to criminal proceedings, the High Court of Justiciary, and in relation to civil proceedings, the Court of Session.

Rights of indemnityS

39 Adaptation of rights to indemnity.S

(1)This section shall have effect in relation to any right (however and whenever created or arising) which a person may have to be indemnified against expenses incurred by him in connection with any proceedings.

(2)In determining in respect of any such right the reasonableness of any expenses, the possibility of avoiding them or part of them by taking advantage of the provisions of this Act shall be disregarded.

(3)Where a person, having any such right to be indemnified against expenses, receives legal aid in connection with the proceedings, then the right shall enure also for the benefit of the Fund as if the expenses incurred by the Fund on his behalf in connection with the proceedings had been incurred by him.

(4)Where—

(a)such a right to be indemnified against expenses arises by virtue of an agreement and is subject to any express provision conferring on those liable under the agreement any right with respect to the bringing or conduct of the proceedings; and

(b)those liable have been given a reasonable opportunity of exercising the right so conferred and have not availed themselves of that opportunity,

the right to be indemnified shall be treated, for the purposes of subsection (3) above, as not being subject to that provision.

GeneralS

40 Finance.S

(1)The Secretary of State shall pay to the Board out of moneys provided by Parliament—

(a)such sums as are required (after allowing for payments into the Fund under paragraphs (a) to (c) and (e) of section 4(3) of this Act) to meet payments out of the Fund under this Act; and

(b)such sums as he may, F82. . . determine are required for the other expenditure of the Board.

(2)The Secretary of State may, F82. . .

(a)determine the manner in which and times at which the sums referred to in subsection (1)(a) above shall be paid to the Board; and

(b)impose conditions on the payment of the sums referred to in subsection (1)(b) above.

(3)The Secretary of State shall pay to the Law Society in accordance with paragraph 1(2)(b) of Schedule 4 to this Act out of moneys provided by Parliament the amount required to make up any deficit in the Legal Aid (Scotland) Fund.

(4)Any payments received by the Secretary of State from the Law Society in accordance with paragraph 1(2)(a) of Schedule 4 to this Act shall be paid by him into the Consolidated Fund.

41 Interpretation.S

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

• [F83 “the 2011 Act” means the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 1);]

• [F84“the 2019 Act” means the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019  (asp 7),]

• “advice and assistance” has the meaning given to it in section 6(1) of this Act;

• [F85 “adviser” has the meaning given to it in section 6(2) of this Act;

• “adviser code” means the code of practice in relation to the register of advice organisations for the time being in force under Schedule 1A to this Act;]

• “assistance by way of representation” has the meaning given to it in section 6(1) of this Act;

• “the Board” has the meaning given to it in section 1(1) of this Act;

• [F86 “children's legal aid” has the meaning given to it in section 28B(2) of this Act;

• “children's legal assistance” means—

  (a)

  children's legal aid, and

  (b)

  advice and assistance in relation to children's hearings, pre-hearing panels (as defined in section 79(2)(a) of the 2011 Act) or proceedings under Part 10 or 15 of the 2011 Act [F87or in relation to proceedings under Part 4 of the 2019 Act]];

• “civil legal aid” has the meaning given to it in section 13(2) of this Act;

• [F88 “the code” means the code of practice in relation to criminal legal assistance for the time being in force under section 25B of this Act;]

• “criminal legal aid” has the meaning given to it in section 21(1) of this Act;

• [F89 “criminal legal assistance” means criminal legal aid and advice and assistance in relation to criminal matters;

• “ document ” includes information recorded in any form;

• “firm” includes an incorporated practice, [F90a licensed legal services provider,] a sole solicitor and a law centre;]

• “the Fund” has the meaning given to it in section 4(1) of this Act;

• “incorporated practice” has the same meaning as in the M1 Solicitors’ (Scotland) Act 1980;

• [F91 “law centre” means a body—

  (a)

  established for the purpose of providing legal services to the public generally as well as to individual members of the public; and

  (b)

  which does not distribute any profits made either to its members or otherwise, but reinvests any such profits for the purposes of the law centre;]

• “the Law Society” means the Law Society of Scotland;

• “legal aid” means civil legal aid, criminal legal aid, [F92children's legal aid] or legal aid given in connection with proceedings for contempt of court F93...;

• [F94“licensed legal services provider” and “solicitor investor” are to be construed in accordance with Part 2 of the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010;]

• “person”

  (a)

  F95[ does not include a body corporate or unincorporate, except where such body is acting in a representative, fiduciary or official capacity, so as to authorise legal aid or adive and assistance to be provided to such a body] [F96; and

  (b)

  includes a person under the age of sixteen years.]

• [F97 “the Register” means the Register established and maintained under section 25A of this Act;

• [F98 “the register of advice organisations” means the register established and maintained under section 12A of this Act;]

• “ registered firm ” means a firm whose name appears on the Register;

• [F99 “registered organisation” means an organisation whose name appears on the register of advice organisations;]

• “ registered solicitor ” means a solicitor whose name appears on the Register;

• “ sole solicitor ” means a solicitor practising under his own name or as a single solicitor under a firm name; and

• “solicitor connected with a firm” includes a sole solicitor [F100, a solicitor investor in a firm] and a solicitor who is a partner, director or employee of a firm, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.]

[F10141A Regulations in relation to criminal legal assistance.S

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations made under this section provide that any reference in, under or by virtue of this Act to “ criminal legal assistance ” shall relate, for any of the purposes of this Act, to such class or classes of criminal legal assistance as he thinks appropriate.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, the power conferred by that subsection may be exercised by reference to—

(a)the class or classes of person who are to receive criminal legal assistance;

(b)the class or classes of case in respect of which such assistance is to be given;

(c)the nature of the work;

(d)the place or places where the assistance is to be provided;

(e)the period for which it is to be provided,

or to any combination of the foregoing; and different provision may be made under that subsection for different purposes, or in relation to different areas or different periods.]

42 Disposable income and capital.S

(1)In this Act “disposable income” or “disposable capital” in relation to any person means his income or, as the case may be, the amount of his capital, after making such deductions and allowances as regulations made under this section may prescribe—

(a)in respect of maintenance of dependants, interest on loans, income tax, rates, rent and other matters for which that person must or reasonably may provide;

(b)to take account of the nature of his resources,

and does not include the subject matter of the dispute.

(2)Regulations made under this section may make provision as to the determination of a person’s income and the amount of his capital and in particular for determining whether any resources are to be treated as income or capital and for taking into account fluctuations of income, and different provision may be made for legal aid and for advice and assistance.

(3)Except in so far as regulations made under this section otherwise provide, the resources of a person’s spouse shall be treated for the purposes of this section as that person’s own resources, and such regulations may also make provision, in relation to minors and pupils and other special cases, for taking into account the resources of other persons.

[F102(4)Regulations under this section may make different provision for—

(a)children's legal aid and legal aid other than children's legal aid,

(b)advice and assistance in relation to children's matters and advice and assistance other than advice and assistance in relation to children's matters.

(5) In subsection (4)(b), “ children's matters ” has the meaning given by section 4A(14). ]

43 Act not to affect certain taxations etc.S

Nothing in this Act shall affect the sum recoverable by virtue of—

(a)an award of expenses in favour of a person to whom legal aid has been made available; or

(b)an agreement as to expenses in favour of such a person which provides for taxation,

and for the purpose of any such award or agreement, the solicitor who acted for the person in whose favour it is made shall be treated as having paid any counsel’s fees.

F103[ 43A Applications of Act to services provided under Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990.S

(1) Advice and assistance shall be available, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, in relation to the provision of executry services by executry practitioners F104 . . . and conveyancing services by independent [F105 conveyancing practitioners], all within the meaning of section 23 (interpretation of sections 16 to 22) of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 as they are so available in relation to the provision of the like services by solicitors.

(2)Subject to any act of sederunt or act of adjournal made under subsection (7) of section 26 of that Act (consideration of applications made under 25) advice and assistance, civil legal aid and criminal legal aid shall be available, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, in relation to the provision of services by persons who have acquired rights to conduct litigation or, as the case may be, rights of audience by virtue of that section as they are so available in relation to the provision of the like services by solicitors and, where appropriate, by advocates.

(3)Where advice and assistance, civil legal aid or criminal legal aid has been made available by virtue of this section, the provisions of this Act shall apply in relation to the person providing those services as they apply in relation to a solicitor or advocate providing like services.]

44 Crown application.S

This Act shall bind the Crown.

45 Amendments, transitional provisions, savings and repeals.S

(1)The enactments mentioned in Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments there specified (being minor amendments and amendments consequential on this Act).

(2)Without prejudice to sections 16 and 17 of the M2Interpretation Act 1978 (effect of repeals) and section 46(3) of this Act, the transitional provisions and savings contained in Schedule 4 to this Act shall have effect.

(3)The enactments set out in columns 1 and 2 of Schedule 5 to this Act are repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

46 Short title, commencement and extent.S

(1)This Act may be cited as the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986.

(2)This Act, apart from this section, shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may, by order made by statutory instrument, appoint; and different days may be so appointed for different purposes and for different provisions.

(3)An order under subsection (2) above may contain such transitional provisions and savings as appear to the Secretary of State necessary or expedient.

(4)This Act, except section 18(3), extends only to Scotland.