Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
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Local MP condemns government's "death-knell" plans for legal aid
Local MP Norman Baker today expressed concern that the Government’s plans to reform the provision of legal aid would adversely affect solicitors working with vulnerable children and families.
Reforms suggested by the Government’s recent review legal aid procurement (the Carter review) call for a 'market-based approach' to the provision of legal aid. However the proposals have met with much opposition from local solicitors who specialise in children and family law.
Local solicitors who have contacted Norman Baker have warned that the reforms could, if carried forward, lead to thousands of legal practitioners giving up legal aid, or even closing down completely through loss of revenue. The number of solicitors firms undertaking legal aid work for vulnerable children and families has fallen from 4593 to 2784 since 2001, and the proposed changes would most likely lead to this number falling even further. In East Sussex there are already very few law firms doing legal aid work, with still fewer specialising in children and family law.
Speaking on the issue Norman Baker said:
"I am deeply concerned by the Government’s plans. The closure of local solicitors firms who practise children and family law would have serious consequences for the local community who need the services offered by such firms. They would be left with little or no access to proper legal advice. In the Lewes constituency there are already precious few firms who do legal work for vulnerable children and families. We cannot afford to lose any more.
"Statistics show that the number of firms taking on this kind of work has fallen dramatically in the last few years, so it is all the more surprising that Government seems to be taking steps to further cut the provision of legal aid.
"I have written to Vera Baird MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Constitutional Affairs, urging the Government to re-think these proposals."