The Government has laid new regulations under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act 2012. The Regulations introduce the new procedure that decision-makers will need to follow when granting legal aid to clients. We are very concerned in particular about two key issues.
The Government has laid new regulations under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act 2012, which will be debated in the House of Commons on 29 November and in the House of Lords on 3 December 2012. The Regulations introduce the new merits criteria (which will replace the current funding code) and also amend Schedule 1 of LASPO to deal with the provision of legal aid for welfare benefits work.
We are very concerned in particular about two key issues.
Two introductory papers outlining the history of the legal aid system, how legal aid works at present and a look at legal aid following the implementation of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act in April 2012.
The legal aid bill has now left the Lords. It will be back in the House of Commons this coming Tuesday (17th April). There are only a few days left to save legal aid and we need you more than ever!
The second reading of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill will take place in the House of Commons on 29th June 2011. Please ask your MP to attend. Their contact details can be found here.
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill is due to be debated by the House of Lords on Monday 21 November 2011. We have prepared a briefing for members to send onto peers to ask them to attend the debate.
