The Criminal Defence Service (Funding) (Amendment) Order 2011 has now been published, which gives effect to the cuts to criminal fees effective from 3rd October 2011.
One omission from the Order is the inclusion of preliminary hearings in the list of hearings that count as “standard appearances” and therefore attract the standard appearance fee. However, the LSC have confirmed that the Order will be amended as soon as possible, and in the meantime advocates should continue to claim, and the LSC will continue to pay, preliminary hearings as standard appearances.
Legal Aid Handbook 