Criminal Defence Service Bill (HL)

Following on from a consultation paper (Cm 6194, ISBN 0101619421) published in May 2004, the Bill sets out the Government's proposals to change the arrangements for the right to public funded representation in criminal court cases in England and Wales.

It contains two key measures, relating to the transfer of responsibility for grant of criminal legal aid from the courts to the Legal Services Commission; and the re-introduction of a means test for criminal cases.

A framework document published at the same time as the Bill (Cm 6572, ISBN 0101657226) provides detailed analysis of these two proposals.

Explanatory notes, prepared by the Department for Constitutional Affairs, are published separately as HL Bill 4-EN (ISBN 0108600173).