“However, this report shows that the Legal Services Commission, which runs the Legal Aid system, is in a hopeless muddle. 

“The Commission’s internal controls are weak and its poor financial management led to solicitors being overpaid for their services to the tune of £25 million and the Commission’s accounts for 2008-09 being qualified.  There are also wide variations in the profits which solicitors have made from Legal Aid.   

“The various errors all occurred despite the Ministry of Justice’s spending £2 million a year overseeing Legal Aid policy.   The Commission is yet another government body which has previously regarded the appointment of a qualified accountant to its senior management team as a nicety, rather than a necessity.

“The Legal Services Commission cannot afford to be so careless with taxpayers’ money.  The Commission needs to put its house in order and fast”.