414 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Justice

414 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Justice: What are the names and amounts of legal aid funding paid to the providers of reports made pursuant to s 27 of the Sentencing Act 2002 for the past 13 months, broken down by month?

Hon Paul Goldsmith: I can advise the Member that the Ministry of Justice does not have available reporting on the individual or organisation a legal aid lawyer has engaged to produce a section 27 report, that would be funded through the legal aid appropriation. It is the legal aid lawyer’s or their client’s discretion as to who provides the report, and it is their responsibility for engaging the report writer. Legal Aid Services does not pay report writers directly, instead the legal aid provider pays for the report, and then seeks reimbursement of the costs through their clients’ legal aid grant.