Save Legal Aid Campaign

EDM number 1257 in 1992-93, proposed by Paul Boateng on 27/01/1993.

That this House expresses its support for the Save Legal Aid Campaign; notes its broad range of support amongst professional and consumer organisations, including the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and the National Consumer Council; welcomes their visit to Parliament on Wednesday 3rd February; calls upon the Government to reconsider its proposals to cut the Legal Aid budget by ú47 million in the current year, rising to ú147 million in 1995-96 by changing the rules for eligibility for legal aid, advice and assistance; reaffirms its commitment to the basic objectives of the Legal Aid Scheme as stated by the Lord Chancellor's Department in 1948, namely, no one will be financially unable to prosecute a just and reasonable claim or defend a legal right; calls upon the Government to do likewise; expresses concern that the effect of the implementation of the Lord Chancellor's proposals would be to remove access to justice from at least 10 million people, to impose still further burdens on the hard-pressed citizen advice bureaux and other advice services and lead to a loss of specialist legal aid solicitors on our high streets; and calls upon the Government to enter into urgent negotiations with the Law Society. Bar Council and other interested parties in order to promote a cost-effective and comprehensive strategy for legal services which promotes the efficient delivery of legal services in the interests of justice and the consumer and to bring forward its proposals to Parliament for full debate and early consideration.

This motion has been signed by a total of 188 MPs.