Between billing enquiries I have predominantly had my nose stuck inside various Contract Compliance Audits (CCA). This occasioned me to revisit the Parliamentary scrutiny of this process which lead me to this:

In July 2004 The Constitutional Affairs Select Committee (at p. 87) concluded as follows with regard to the practice of Contract Compliance Audits (CCA):

“Those who receive public money for providing a public service need to maintain proper professional standards. However, the current system of auditing solicitors costs is arbitrary, inaccurate and bureaucratic. Furthermore, it is not linked to quality of advice given. It is clearly punishing competent and honest solicitors and is operated in a way which completely fails to attract the support of the profession. This is the most serious criticism of the current system for managing legal aid work that we have found. A solution is urgently needed.” (emphasis added)

Not only has a solution not been found it is being resurrected in Crime and replicated in slightly different form in FAVFM. Why have Immigration suppliers, well at least those in private practice, continued to be subjected to this process unamended?

As I try and unpick some of the damage these audits have caused I think it is time we had an honest answer.