The government is ignoring its own research on peoples’ need for free legal advice as it plans to cut legal aid, the House of Commons heard last week.

Anas Sarwar, Labour MP for Glasgow Central, said that the government’s planned funding cuts, which will impact law centres and citizens advice bureaux, mean that people are expected to represent themselves in an increasing number of proceedings

She said the cuts come despite government figures that show the success rate for people who receive proper legal advice and help before appearing in court is double that for those without representation, even if their cases have equal merit.

Sarwar asked justice minister Jonathan Djanogly: ‘How does that fit with the principle of equal access to justice for all?’

Djanogly said that the government published equality impact assessments with its reform proposals, which considered the impacts on the not-for-profit sector collectively.

He said that legal advice is often being offered in circumstances where general help is needed.

Djanogly said that citizens advice bureaux receive only 15% of their funding from the Ministry of Justice, and said that he is therefore taking up the issue as a cross-departmental one, ‘something that the Labour party failed to do throughout its period in government’.

Shabana Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood and a barrister, told Djanogly that the government’s legal aid cuts will disproportionately affect people on low incomes, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and women.

Djanogly said: ‘I should point out that people on high incomes do not get legal aid.

‘We need to change behaviour; there needs to be a less contentious approach to the law and early intervention, which means looking at new ideas such as mediation.’