The Scottish Government has agreed "in principle" to make payments to solicitors who are called out to police stations under the Lord Advocate's emergency guidelines, but no detail has been agreed on the payment levels, an ongoing source of concern to criminal bar associations.

The Firm has been told by bar association solicitors that they fear the payment levels will remain unchanged from their 1992 levels under the emergency callout scheme, presently boycotted by both Glasgow and Highland Faculties. The Glasgow Bar Association has been excluded from the Law Society's criminal legal aid negotiotions.

“The Scottish Government has agreed to the principle of a payment scheme and further discussions will now take place between the Government, Law Society and SLAB to negotiate the details and costs,” said Ian Bryce, the Law Society’s Legal Aid Vice-Convener.

“The Society will continue to negotiate on behalf of its members with the Scottish Government, Scottish Legal Aid Board, Crown Office and ACPOS over the implementation of the interim guidelines which will be rolled out to all summary cases from tomorrow (Thursday),” he added.