Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that most people are aware of their entitlement to legal support; and what estimate they have made of the number of people likely to be eligible for support by way of (1) legal advice and (2) legal representation.
Answered on
12 March 2019
On 7 February 2019 the Government published the Legal Support Action Plan, which outlines our vision to deliver quicker and easier access to a broad spectrum of complimentary legal support services. This includes launching a campaign to improve awareness of how people can access legal support, including legal aid, by Autumn 2019.
The Legal Support Action Plan builds on the evidence gathered as part of the Post-Implementation Review of Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. The review found that further consideration of the eligibility criteria for legal aid is required and the Action Plan commits to carrying out a comprehensive legal aid means test review.
Whilst it is not currently possible to identify the proportion of the population that is eligible for legal aid advice and/or representation, analysis as part of the legal aid means test review is expected to provide an estimate for this figure.