It follows the recommendation made in an independent review of the criminal legal aid system and will see the typical criminal barrister earn £7,000 more a year.

Criminal solicitors will also receive a 15 percent increase for their work in police stations and magistrates’ and youth courts, with further multi-million-pound reforms to solicitors’ pay still under consideration.

The fee increase is being fast-tracked with the legislation required being laid in July so that legal professionals begin to see the pay rise before the end of 2022.

The remaining proposals in the recent consultation on criminal legal aid will be responded to later this year, with potential further increases for solicitors and other legal professionals as part of longer-term reforms, with £20 million set aside for this work.

Justice Minister James Cartlidge said:

Our energetic efforts to tackle the courts backlog are working but the strike action by criminal barristers threatens all that progress, despite the very generous pay offer on the table.

The typical criminal barrister will earn an extra £7,000 a year from September, so I urge the Criminal Bar Association to accept this offer to stop victims having to wait longer for justice.

The confirmed 15 percent rise is on top of up to £74 million extra allocated to criminal legal aid per year over the last 4 years that is increasingly reaching barristers and solicitors as more of the cases outstanding from the pandemic are concluded.

The proposal to increase investment in criminal legal aid by £135 million a year is the biggest rise in a decade and raises taxpayer spending on it to a record £1.2 billion.

The Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid found that, before expenses, the median fee of a criminal barrister in 2019-20 was £79,800 and that 80 percent earn at least £45,000 after expenses. While junior barristers earn much less in their first couple of years of practice, by their third year of practice the average criminal barrister will earn £65,000 before expenses.

The government is investing £477 million into the justice system to reduce backlogs in the courts caused by the pandemic and has also removed the cap on how many days courts can sit for a second year. The investment means more trials can take place and the same decision last year meant that nearly 17,000 more days were sat in the Crown Court than the year prior to the pandemic.

Video technology has been rolled out to over 70 percent of all courtrooms and 3,265 virtual court rooms have been opened so that more hearings can take place.

Since May, magistrates have been able to sentence offenders to up to a year in prison, doubling their previous powers, helping to free up an estimated 1,700 extra sitting days of Crown Court time each year.

Notes to Editors

This has been a highly successful and historic NATO Summit in which we have once again exceeded expectations in the unity and single mindedness with which this alliance is confronting Putin’s illegal and barbaric invasion of Ukraine.

After 127 days of war we in NATO are now more resolved than ever that Europe’s boundaries cannot be changed by force and that we must give the Ukrainians the means to protect themselves. And we are.

In the last few days virtually everyone around the table has agreed to give more to help.

And at the same we have to recognise the impacts that this brutal invasion are being felt around the world. In Africa, in Latin America, in Asia – there is not a country that is not being affected now by the surge in energy prices and the shortages of food and fertiliser.

And so just as we in the UK are focused on helping people next month, in July to the 8 million households with £1200 with more help to come, £400 for every family to help with the cost of living and energy. So too, the governments of the Commonwealth, of the G7 and NATO are determined to work together to ease the pressure around the world, whether that means getting the grain from Ukraine or encouraging moves to increase global energy supplies or helping countries to find alternative sources of fertiliser

And we must frankly recognise that not every country takes the same view of Putin’s invasion or sees it in the way that we do. And so we have agreed that we have to explode some myths.

We have to explode the myth that western sanctions are in some way responsible for these price spikes when of course it is the Russian invasion that has caused the shortages of food and Putin’s blockade that are stopping the grain leaving Ukrainian ports.

We need to explode the myth that NATO was in any way responsible for provoking the conflict. Nothing could be further from the truth. And if you want proof that this is a purely defensive alliance, you could have no more eloquent testimony than the accession of Finland and Sweden – quintessentially peace loving countries that have been neutral for decades.

The fact that these two paladins for peace have joined NATO tells you all you need to know about NATO and all you need to know about Putin.

We need to show the global south that we are the partners they need and that we NATO countries and that we’re there to help them as they make the transition to a green future and that they should beware the trap of running up huge debts to other countries that do not share our values and maybe do not have their best interests at heart.

And the final myth we need to debunk is that when it comes to crisis such as this, western democracies, because of the pressures that politicians face, do not have the same staying power.

And I think If Ukraine were to be crushed or forced into a bad peace, the consequences for freedom around the world would be appalling.

And that view is shared by everyone in NATO, so let us be absolutely clear, the best way for us to win the argument around the world about our values, what we stand for, about our opposition to the use of force to change boundaries, about international law. The best way to win that argument is for the Ukrainians to win and for Putin to fail in Ukraine.

That’s why I’m pleased today we have announced another billion pounds worth of military support. And if you wanted evidence of the amazing ability of the Ukrainians to fight back, to overcome adversity to repel the Russians, then then look at what has happened just today on Snake Island where Russia has had to cede ground.

In the end it will prove impossible for Putin to hold down a country that will not accept his rule.

This has been a crucial summit in that we are resolved not just to support Ukraine, but we have agreed a new strategic concept, we are moving beyond the doctrine of tripwire deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank to a new approach of defence deterrence by denial. And countries around the table are also recognising that they must spend more.

And in our case that means meeting, and being prepared to exceed, the target we set for ourselves a decade ago of everybody spending 2% of our GDP on defence, goals which were then set for a very different era. What we are saying is that we want Jens Stoltenberg, the General Secretary to start work on that new target now and he has agreed to do that.

We need to invest for the long term, in vital capabilities like future combat air, while simultaneously adapting to a more dangerous and competitive world. The logical conclusion of the investments we propose to embark, of these decisions, is 2.5% of GDP on Defence by the end of the decade.

I want to say a big thank you to our Spanish hosts, and I think they have done an amazing job and thanks to Jens Stoltenberg, and say at the end of this Madrid Summit – the NATO alliance is plainly in robust health and getting stronger, with new members and a renewed purpose.

We can see that our work is cut out and we can see that there are billions of people around the world, swing voters, who need to hear and understand our arguments, but we have a huge advantage of knowing what we want, in believing in our ideas and having the means to do what we want to do, and above all we are united and, if history is any guide, then I believe that this great alliance will again be successful.

Thank you very much.

Special Envoy Helen Grant visited a variety of different UK funded education programmes and spoke to partners in Jordan, highlighting the UK’s efforts internationally to ensure all girls are able to access 12 years of quality education.

Helen Grant said:

Girls’ education is essential for alleviating poverty and helping economies to grow. In my visit to Jordan, I’ve been inspired by the talented and inspiring girls and young women I’ve met and all the work the UK is doing to support them to realise their potential through education.

The Special Envoy met the Minister of Education, international donor partners, and key education partners and stakeholders across the education sector in Jordan.

Helen Grant reiterated the importance of educating girls as “one of the most impactful development investments we can make” and repeatedly stressed the gains this has for society.

On World Refugee Day 2022, the Special Envoy visited Zaatari Refugee Camp to visit a school funded through the UK and multi-donor education programme: Accelerated Access Initiative. She also participated in a focus group with secondary school age refugee girls to understand the positive impact of education, as well as the challenges they face as vulnerable girls in continuing their education. She saw first-hand how support from the UK and the government of Jordan is helping all children in Jordan have access to quality education.

During a meeting with the Minister of Education, the Special Envoy highlighted the benefits of reform in the curriculum and teacher training, as well as safety to ensure girls are supported to stay in and succeed in education, and are provided with the right tools to transition to further education and employment opportunities.

The Special Envoy also visited Princess Alia Secondary School to meet with Jordanian students and teachers in a school participating in the British Council International School Awards (ISA). She also engaged with young Jordanian girls supported under the UK’s Newton-Khalidi fund to discuss their experiences working on STEM careers and engaged with both Jordanian and UK partners AstroJo as well as UCL.

At a meeting with the Queen Rania Foundation, Helen Grant welcomed a new partnership for a UK funded research project.

She said:

I’m pleased our new global education research programme, Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crises (ERICC), in Jordan will help build evidence and best practice on what works in education in order to provide greater quality of education for all children in Jordan.

Concluding her visit, the Special Envoy said:

I’m pleased to see first-hand the impact of UK funding and partnership with the Ministry of Education to support boys and girls in Jordan with quality education. Since 2016, the UK has led the international community to support the landmark ‘Jordan Compact’ commitment made at the ‘Syria and the Region Conference’ to ensure all children regardless of their nationality will receive an education. The UK will continue to work tirelessly with the government of Jordan to ensure all children regardless of their nationality will receive a quality education.

Since 2016, the UK has provided around £49 million to the multi-donor ‘Special Account’ in the Ministry of Education to offset the burden of costs of Syrian refugees in the public education system. This support is known as the Accelerated Access Initiative (AAI) and also involves: Australia, Canada, EU, Germany, Norway and USAID although the coordination between all donors and MoE is led by the UK.

Through AAI, government of Jordan with support from donors will continue in delivering this promise and providing quality public education to both Syrian and non-Syrian refugee boys and girls in formal and non-formal education. This includes: training new teachers, financing salaries for teachers and administrative staff, opening additional double shift schools, supporting blended learning, purchasing schoolbooks, providing tuition fees, and covering costs for operations and equipment in these schools.

To date, AAI has supported 190,000 refugee boys and girls access public education (95,000 girls and 1,092 children with disabilities).

Read more about Helen Grant MP.

Minister Milling reiterated the importance of the UK-Jordan strategic partnership and the UK’s commitment to sustaining our cooperation across diplomatic, development, economic and security files.

The Minister met Jordanian Foreign Minister, HE Ayman Safadi, to discuss the UK’s diplomatic partnership and our cooperation on a number of regional issues. The Minister expressed her appreciation for Jordan’s positive and constructive role as a force for peace in the region.

Minister Milling thanked Jordan for its generosity in hosting Syrian and other refugees from conflicts in the region.

The Minister visited Al Azraq refugee camp to see first-hand UK-funded humanitarian programmes in support of Syrian refugees and spoke to representatives from UN agencies and the Syrian Refugees Affairs Directorate.

She announced £30 million in new UK Aid programme funding to support learning recovery for 1.8 million host community and refugee children impacted by almost 2 years of continuous school closures. This includes support for 95,000 vulnerable girls and 1,500 children with disabilities to access education. This also underpins the UK’s commitment for every girl to receive 12 years of quality education.

The Minister saw a World Food Programme-contracted supermarket, where refugees can exchange food vouchers to buy food and met beneficiary households to hear directly about the situation in the camp, the challenges they face and their hopes for the future.

During her meeting with HE Dr Wajih Owais, Minister of Education, Minister Milling witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the British Council and the Ministry of Education in Jordan. This is the first of its kind which will bring UK expertise to support the quality of education in Jordan, through the enhancement of English language teaching nationwide to empower young Jordanians to reach their full potential.

At a joint signing ceremony with H.E Nasser Shraideh, Minister Of Planning And International Affairs, Minister Milling signed a new £65 million Social Protection programme as part of ongoing UK support to the government of Jordan to deliver on the National Social Protection Strategy. This aims to improve services and payments to the poorest and most vulnerable, helping Jordan recover from COVID-19.

Minister Milling said:

The UK is committed to providing humanitarian support to refugees in Jordan. We continue to fund cash assistance for refugees to meet their basic needs (including shelter and food), and the provision of protection services to children and people at risk. Jordan is showing huge generosity in hosting refugees and it is right that the international community continues to play its part in supporting Jordan.

During the visit, Minister Milling also met the Minister of Finance and welcomed Jordan’s commitment to taking forward vital economic reforms. The Minister commended the launch of the Economic Modernization Vision 2033, underlined the importance of gender-inclusive and sustainable growth and highlighted the UK’s commitment to continue follow through on the 2019 London Initiative to support economic growth and job creation in Jordan.

Minister Milling also met a group of inspiring Jordanian women active in political life, together with Minister of State for Legal Affairs and Head of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Women, HE Wafa Beni Mustafa. She discussed how to ensure inclusion and greater involvement of women in all aspects of the political process as well as in the economy – no society can reach its potential without the full participation of the female half of its population.

The Minister also congratulated Classic Fashion Apparel Industry, on concluding the first UK Export Finance backed deal in Jordan. She welcomed the initiative which will support the opening of a new apparel and textiles factory in Aqaba, creating thousands of jobs in Jordan.

Minister Milling concluded:

I was delighted to make my first visit to Jordan as Minister. Last year we celebrated 100 years of friendship between our countries and the UK is fully committed to sustaining and developing our unique strategic partnership into its second century.

I expressed my gratitude for the Kingdom’s extraordinary and generous role in supporting refugees from regional conflicts and announced 2 major new UK-funded programmes totalling £95 million, designed to support both vulnerable Jordanians and refugees.

I was also delighted to meet Jordanian ministerial counterparts to discuss our diplomatic cooperation on regional issues and the UK’s support for Jordan’s crucial economic and political modernisation programmes.