The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has become the latest public body to voice criticism of the way in which cuts to Legal Aid are being implemented and has called for a review.

In its report on the Ministry of Justice accounts the committee says: “The Ministry maintains that it has followed Government guidance in producing its impact assessment for proposed changes to legal aid, but admitted that in some areas where there were insufficient data, potential impacts could not be quantified. The impact assessment has not identified the behaviour changes which may arise from the new legal aid arrangements, and should do so.

“The Ministry should arrange for the National Audit Office to review the impact assessment to ascertain whether the assumptions are sound and uncertainties have been clearly acknowledged.”

It chair, Margaret Hodge, said: “Without full information on its costs, there is a risk that savings will be made through unnecessary cuts to frontline services essential to the poorest in the community, rather than through genuine improvements in the Ministry’s efficiency.”

The issue of Legal Aid was just one of the problems in the Ministry highlighted by the committee. Principal among them was its inability to post its accounts on time.

Ms Hodge continued:  "Financial management at the MOJ has improved since we last reported. However, the Ministry remains unable to deliver timely and accurate financial accounts. This is unacceptable and undermines public confidence in the Ministry’s stewardship of public funds.

“The Ministry has not made enough progress in maximizing its income. It has increased the amount of money collected through fines but this is being outpaced by the growth in fines outstanding.  Fee recovery levels in courts have shown no sign of improvement. And the Ministry acknowledges that 60% of the money outstanding under confiscation orders may never be recovered.”