1. These Regulations may be cited as the Legal Advice and Assistance (Duty Solicitor) (Remuneration) (Amendmcnt) Regulations 1991 and shall come into force on 1st April 1991.

2.-(1) At the end of regulation 4(3) of the Legal Advice and Assistance (Duty Solicitor) (Remuneration) Regulations 1989(2) there shall be inserted the folllowing new paragraph-

"(4) Where the solicitor without good reason has failed (or, if an extension were not granted, would fail) to comply with the time limit, the determining officer may, in exceptional circumstances, extend the time limit and shall consider whether it is reasonable in the circumsttnces to reduce the costs; provided that costs shall not be reduced unless the solicitor has been allowed a reasonable opportunity to show cause orally or in writing why the costs should not be reduced."

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Legal Advice and Assistance (Duty Solicitor) (Remuneration) Regulations 1989 by allowing a determining officer, where a solicitor has failed without good reason to comply with the time limit for submitting a claim for remuneration, to extend the time but with a discretion to reduce the amount payable.