On Tuesday, the Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab, published the Government’s response to the independent review of criminal legal aid.
Our reforms will deliver on the two headline recommendations from the review - putting criminal legal aid on a stable and sustainable footing for the future. They will help to deliver this Government’s objectives of delivering swift access to justice, and they will usher in the reform we need at this crossroads moment as we build back a stronger and fairer society after the pandemic.
The reforms put an extra £135 million into the sector every year which represents a huge expansion of access to justice - 2 million more people with access to civil legal aid, and 3.5 million more people with access to legal aid in the Magistrates’ Court.
I was happy to learn that the Justice Secretary agreed with me that the reforms will mean more constituents in Newcastle-under-Lyme will be covered by legal aid so they can exercise their legal rights, or defend themselves if accused.
The Government have launched a consultation to find out your views on the proposals.
