The Law Society is fuming after the Ministry of Justice announced yesterday that certain legal aid means test reforms will be delayed until 2026.
The MoJ opened its announcement by stating that innocent people who have suffered miscarriages of justice, personal harm or injury are among those who will benefit from means test changes coming into effect this year.
However, the MoJ went on to say that while new non-means tested areas of legal aid were implemented last year under the first phase of a means test review, and detailed work had been done to deliver further reforms, ‘the timeline for implementation will take longer than initially envisaged due to wider competing priorities. The new schemes are now not expected to be fully operational until 2026’. No more details were forthcoming by press time.
The Law Society responded by pointing out that the means test has not been updated for inflation since 2009. President Nick Emmerson said: ‘The government is displaying a pattern of behaviour of refusing to commit resources to the justice system resulting in unmet legal need. They have already acknowledged there are issues with the current means test, leaving ordinary people without access to justice.
‘Frequently blamed for the continued delays is the Legal Aid Agency’s antiquated IT systems – which are causing implementation problems. This is itself evidence of the long-term neglect of our justice system.’
The latest delay comes after it emerged that the government has pushed back its civil legal aid review timetable.
Emmerson said: ‘Civil legal aid providers are questioning their ability to stay in the profession. The system is in a precarious state and ultimately the ones who will suffer are those trying to seek justice.
‘This means that poverty-hit families are being denied vital help to fight eviction, tackle severe housing disrepair and address other life-changing legal issues. We need decisive action and we need it now.’
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