MPs will face a ‘rising tide of need’ from constituents with unmet legal needs if the government’s legal aid cuts are implemented, according to a report published today by the Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) group.
The study warns that increasing numbers of people are turning to their MPs for help with legal problems in the absence of free advice elsewhere. Yet MPs themselves face increasing difficulties identifying sources of free advice to refer their constituents to.
According to the report the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders bill, which will remove legal aid for most social welfare law and immigration cases, will exacerbate the problem.
The YLAL’s report is based on a survey of all MPs in England and Wales, carried out in July and November 2011. It received responses from MPs and caseworkers in 45 constituencies from across the political spectrum.
Responses showed that in the six months before the survey, on average 38% of MPs’ casework involved legal issues, though 27% of respondents said that 50-74% of their caseload involved legal issues.
Of those who replied, 71% said that they had needed to refer such cases to a legal adviser, legal aid solicitor firm, law centre or Citizens Advice. The study also found that 56% of the inquiries that constituents wanted to raise with their MP would not receive legal aid if the LASPO bill is enacted.
YLAL co-chair Katie Brown said: ‘MPs are finding it increasingly difficult to find free, specialist legal advice to refer their constituents to. There is a likelihood that the situation will deteriorate as the cuts come into effect.’
As more people seek help from MPs, said Brown, there is a risk that MPs will struggle to deal appropriately with the burden.
In a foreword to the report, Labour MP Karen Buck praised the work of legal aid lawyers, law centres and Citizens Advice, but said she feared for the future if the LASPO bill is enacted. ‘MPs are increasingly becoming part of the frontline when it comes to helping and advising desperate people faced with debt, homelessness and similar cases.’
If the bill is enacted, she said: ‘I believe MPs and other elected representatives will be facing a rising tide of need, and whilst we should indeed be aware of the reality of people’s lives, and can provide valuable assistance to our constituents, we are neither trained nor resourced to replace specialist advice and legal representation.’
Buck added: ‘It won’t be too long before it becomes obvious that the absence of effective representation and early intervention in debt, housing and other cases will end up costing more than is being shaved from the social welfare legal aid bill.’
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