The House of Lords constitution committee has highlighted “significant” concerns with the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, which is now at second reading stage in the Lords.
The committee suggests strengthening the lord chancellor’s duty to secure “effective access to justice”, to ensure the director of legal aid casework is sufficiently independent of possible government interference, and to guarantee provision for appeals where legal aid is refused.
Committee chairwoman Baroness Jay, said: “It is important members of the Lords are aware of some of the implications which may threaten the important rights of access to justice and availability of legal advice to people in police custody.”
Law Society president John Wotton said it was “unusual” for a Lords committee to “express their concerns with such startling clarity”.
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