The government aims to increase criminal legal aid fees by the end of September.

It is hoping to lay secondary legislation following a Ministry of Justice consultation on a £135 million reform package.

So far there have been more than 200 responses and if feedback continues the analysis they’ve already had, a statutory instrument would be laid in parliament to begin the implementation of increased fees.

Practitioners are unhappy about the government’s proposals and timetable for reform.

Justice minister James Cartlidge told Law Gazette: “From the outset of my engagement with practitioners, there has been a consensus call for us to unbundle the consultation – implementing fee increases as soon as possible, with other reforms following at a later date.

“Once we have responded to the consultation on the fee increases and the confirmation of those increases is before parliament, it will be followed by a full consultation response on the wider proposals in the autumn.”