Lords debates legal aid
12 July 2013
Members of the Lords, including a former Law Lord, former Justices of the Supreme Court and a former Attorney General for England and Wales debated the effect of legal aid cuts on the justice system on Thursday 11 July
- Watch live on Parliament TV
- Read the transcript in Lords Hansard
- Lords Library note: Effect of cuts in legal aid funding on the justice system
The debate focused on the legal system and the ways individuals can access justice and challenge laws in light of Ministry of Justice proposals to cut legal aid. Lords discussed the proposals, including price competition and the ‘tapered fee’, which would reduce the fee paid to a lawyer the longer a trial goes on.
The impact of the cuts on children and young people was a key area of debate, with peers suggesting the government implement laws to protect access to legal aid for young people.