Brett Dooley, Group Manager, National Service Delivery and Legal Services Commissioner at the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) provided the primary evidence, which covers general principles of legal aid and the history of legal aid for historic abuse claimants, including those claimants represented by Cooper Legal. He also provided evidence about total legal aid funding attributed to historic abuse claimants. 

Mr Howden, who previously held the role of National Specialist Adviser in the Legal Services Agency for a number of years, was available to the Inquiry to answer questions as he had direct knowledge of the history of legal aid for historic abuse claimants outlined in Mr Dooley’s evidence.