House of Lords debate over legal aid cuts

Former Minister for Legal Aid, Lord Bach, has tabled a motion opposing the 10% cuts to legal aid funding which came into force on 3^rd October 2011. In the words of Lord Bach the reduction in the fees paid to legal aid firms and law centres “threatens the financial viability of already hard-pressed community legal practitioners who carry out an essential service to those least able to afford it, including the most vulnerable in our society”.

The issue will be debated in the House of Lords on 26^th October 2011.

1. The cuts are contained within The Community Legal Service (Funding) (Amendment No2) Order 2011. The Order is a negative SI laid before Parliament on the 24^th August 2011. The Order is available here –

2. The motion tabled by Lord Bach opposing the Order is as follows:

Lord Bach to move that a Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that the Community Legal Service (Funding) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2011 (SI 2011/2066), laid before the House on 24 August, be annulled, on the grounds that the reduction in civil standard and graduated fees for Legal Help and Help at Court will seriously undermine access to justice because it threatens the financial viability of already hard-pressed community legal practitioners who carry out an essential service to those least able to afford it, including the most vulnerable in our society.

3. A summary of the changes which came into force on 3^rd October 2011 can be found here –

http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil/legal_aid_reform.asp