A Westminster Hall Debate on 6th March 2012

Yvonne Fovargue, MP for Makerfield, raised the impact of the Legal Aid Bill on the not-for-profit advice sector, such as the Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB)

Under proposals contained in the bill - currently going through the House of Lords - the responsibility for legal aid will be given to the Ministry of Justice, and the provision of legal aid for things including help with employment problems, benefits, debts and personal injury would be ended

Advice services, such as the CAB, have expressed concerns about the bill, saying that "what is left of legal aid will be unworkable for many advice providers"

CAB case workers currently rely on legal aid to assist in various welfare, debt and housing cases. Ms Fovargue said that up to 50% of CAB offices could close down, affecting "millions" of people, and claimed that the bill would have a "disproportionate" effect on the not for profit sector

Responding to the debate, Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said that legal aid currently cost the government £2.2bn a year, and that cuts were needed to help stabilise the economy

What price justice?

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