In brief: Bar Council working party to report on CLAF

The Bar Council is forming a working party, under "an eminent chairman", to report on how a Contingency Legal Aid Fund could be structured and funded. Bankers, insurers and the Government will be invited to contribute. The Government has been unenthusiastic about public funding for a CLAF but has said it will reconsider the matter if it is demonstrated that a fund would be viable.