Legal aid cuts will hit poor hardest say Coventry Law Centre

[dutchman]

Government cuts in legal aid will almost wipe out help for vulnerable people seeking justice in Coventry, according to alarming new figures.



It is estimated the number of people supported by Coventry Law Centre and the Citizens’ Advice Bureau with legal aid will be drastically cut by nearly 90 per cent.

Coventry Law Centre managers said the depressing figures highlighted an “unprecedented attack on the poor” – with the plans due to be debated in Parliament again today.

It is estimated the 1,830 people who will get legal aid support this year at the two centres - under contracts with the Legal Services Commission - will fall dramatically to just 226.

Those getting free legal help - who would not otherwise be able to afford solicitors’ fees - include single people and families fighting debt repayment demands, unlawful eviction and sackings, immigration cases, and refusal of benefits’ entitlements during the economic downturn.

The government disputes the figures produced by the Advice Services Alliance, which give a geographical breakdown of how the government’s plans will hit towns and cities.

Conservative justice secretary Ken Clarke wants more people to instead be helped by a national phoneline, which could then refer some cases for advice to places like Coventry Law Centre.

But the centre’s Sue Bent said the figures factored in future use of the phoneline.

She said consultants’ data supplied to Coventry City Council showed how most of the centre’s clients from deprived areas often have limited English, and prefer face-to-face support to using the phone.

Mr Clarke’s bill proposes £350m of cuts to the £2bn Legal Aid budget.

Coventry Law Centre and the CAB say it will drastically cut advice and legal representation in courts and tribunals for people caught up in disputes with the government, firms or richer family members.

Ms Bent said the figures were “massively alarming”, adding: “It’s an unprecedented attack on poor people. It is taking away their ability to get their rights upheld.”

The 60 per cent cut is the legal aid budget is three times average 20 per cent funding cuts across government under stalling attempts to eliminate the national deficit.

The government says it needs to cut waste and bureaucracy in the legal aid bill, and time spent in court which adds to lawyers’ fees.

It favours using more mediation to resolve disputes, particularly in family and divorce cases. But opponents in Coventry say legal aid is often needed when no compromise is possible.

Ms Bent said the centre’s future would be under threat if half its funding was not coming from a supportive council, which understood the rising demand for advice in the economic climate.

She said she agreed with the principle of encouraging more mediation. But the government’s £20million transitional fund for not-for-profit charities would not be enough to prevent people slipping through the net as reform takes place.

Ms Bent warned the result could be increased costs to taxpayers as people’s problems go unresolved, including in NHS and unemployment pay-outs.

There is cross-party opposition to the government’s legal aid plans at Coventry City Council, and from city Labour MPs Geoffrey Robinson and Jim Cunningham.