Legal aid cuts ‘still on course’

Legal aid budget cuts are likely to take place, in spite of massive criticism across the benches from peers, the Justice Secretary’s minister in the Lords has said. Lib Dem Lord McNally said: “We are still in consultation. But I can’t say that the consultation is going to produce some Pauline conversion at the last moment, because we made a commitment to savings and we are going to deliver them.” A total of £279 million is to be cut from the civil legal aid budget under Government proposals, with £71 million coming out of the budget for criminal legal aid. Critics say this could affect just under a quarter of a million people every year. Replying to a Labour-led debate on the issue between peers, Lord McNally said: “We are listening. We have some tough decisions to take. We will not flinch from those decisions but neither will we ignore common sense when it is offered to us.” Former legal aid minister Lord Bach, for Labour, said: “If the Government sticks to its ‘green paper’ proposals, then the system of social welfare legal aid will be decimated, if not destroyed. It is as serious as that.” We have one of the leading teams of criminal law specialists in West London and the South East. If you are facing a serious criminal charge, contact a member of the IBB’s Criminal Defence team: call us on 08456 381381 or email criminaldefence@ibblaw.co.uk.