A consultation on draft regulations made under section 57 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 regarding the disclosure of information from the Department of Work and Pensions and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in order to facilitate the assessment of a defendant's financial eligibility for legal aid at the magistrates' court.

Details of the new arrangements are set out in the following draft statutory instruments:

• The Criminal Defence Service (Information Requests) (Prescribed Benefits) Regulations 2008
• The Criminal Defence Service (Information Requests) Regulations 2008.

Once responses have been received, we will consider any necessary amendments to the draft regulations before they are laid before Parliament.