In its robust response to a government consultation in 2014 setting out further proposed fee cuts, the Bar Council made the following submission: Statistics published by the World Bank state that in 2011 the United Kingdom spent 9.3 per cent of its GDP on health, whereas Romania spent only 5.8 per cent. The government does not use those statistics to argue that England and Wales must reduce its health spending to match that of Romania. Rather, there is pride that an excellent health service is provided; there should be equal pride in relation to the provision of excellent access to justice.6
