questionText: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment she has made of the number of defendants pleading guilty because of unaffordable legal costs.
answerText: Defendants facing trial at the magistrates’ court or Crown Court may apply for legal aid to pay for their defence costs; this covers the cost of preparing the case and providing legal representation. The evidence provision fee, which was introduced in 201...
heading: Sentencing: Legal Costs