SLCC Budget for 2011-2012 laid before Scottish Parliament

Following the Scottish Election, the SLCC was able to lay its budget before the Scottish Parliament on 26 May 2011

SLCC Budget 2011-2012 laid before the Scottish Parliament

26/05/2011

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has today; (Thursday 26 May 2011) laid its budget for the next financial year before the Scottish Parliament. The budget is for the period from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012.

Funded by a levy paid by legal professionals operating in Scotland, the SLCC is required under the terms of the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007, to consult with the professional bodies on its budget for the following year.

Commenting on the budget, SLCC CEO Rosemary Agnew said: "The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission listened to the views of the professional bodies and a policy on reserves was set which has enabled us to reduce the levy whilst ensuring we still hold sufficient funds to carry out our statutory functions.

"The general levy for 2011/2012 has been set below the amount required to recover our full expenditure costs, which means £1,000,000 will be released from our reserves leaving sufficient funds to cover 3.5 months running costs.

"This means the general levy will be cut by £26, however, I must emphasise that this level is unlikely to be sustainable in future years.

"Importantly, although expenditure is budgeted to remain the same, the SLCC aims to deliver a wider range of functions, particularly in relation to the development of our oversight role."

The key points of the SLCC budget are:

The level of anticipated expenditure, £2,830,319, has been kept to the same level as the current year.
The anticipated income from levy and other income is £1,837,674.
Anticipated funds released from reserves is £1,000,000 (last year £740,000 was released).
The Complaint Levy is unchanged for the third year.

General Levies

Category	General Levy
Solicitors with 3+ years experience	209
Conveyancing Practitioner or Executry Practitioner 3+ years experience	209
Solicitors in 1^st 3 years of practice	105
Conveyancing Practitioner or Executry Practitioner in 1^st 3 years of practice	105
Practising Outwith Scotland	69
In-house Conveyancing Practitioner or Executry Practitioner	69
In-house lawyers	69
Advocates	105
Assoc of Commercial Attorneys	69

Complaints Levies remain unchanged for third year

	2011/12 *up to*
Complaint not upheld at any stage	£0
Complaint resolved at mediation	£0
Investigation recommends complaint upheld in full or part, proposed settlement accepted - First Settlement	£500
Investigation recommends complaint upheld in full or part, proposed settlement accepted - Second & Further Settlements	£700
Formal Determination complaint upheld in full or part - First	£800
Formal Determination complaint upheld in full or part - Second	£1,200
Formal Determination complaint upheld in full or part - Third & Further Determinations	£2,000

ENDS

For further information, contact the SLCC on 0131 528 5111..

Editor's Notes:

Under the terms of the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 (the Act), the SLCC Budget is required to be laid before the Scottish Parliament by 30 April of each year. However, as the Scottish Parliament was in recess prior to the Scottish Election the process was delayed until the Cabinet Secretaries were appointed.

The SLCC is independent of government and empowered to set its own budget which, under the terms of the Act, requires the SLCC to consult with the professional bodies on its budget for the following year. Our letters to and the responses from the professional bodies can be read on our website at http://www.scottishlegalcomplaints.org.uk/for-legal-practitioners/budget--levy.aspx.

The professional bodies are:

The Law Society of Scotland;
Faculty of Advocates
Association of Commercial Attorneys.

Under the terms of the Act, should the SLCC ever require extra funding, it is not free to borrow money without first obtaining the consent of Scottish Ministers.

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