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10 January 2012
This Kings College London (KCL) report finds that the legal aid changes proposed in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill will save less than half of the £270 million predicted by the Government.
The report commissioned, by The Law Society of England and Wales, analysed the proposed changes to family, social welfare and clinical negligence law, and identified knock-on costs of £139 million per annum meaning the Government will realise approximately 42 percent of the predicted savings. These knock-on costs will largely be born by other government departments including a predicted £28 million being shouldered by the NHS each year.
You can download the report from the Kings College London link below.
Following the publication of this report, thirty-one charities, advice and legal organisations have signed a joint letter calling for Peers to consider carefully the impact of the cuts to legal aid on individuals. They point out that over 78,000 disabled people and 140,000 children will be denied help if the Bill goes through. You can view this letter at www.justice-for-all.org.uk/News/Major-charities-sign-joint-letter-on-legal-aid
