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Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

I understand the hon. Lady's point. My right hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington and I, along with others, have tabled an amendment on telephone access that we will come to later. This is one of the matters on which I have had a significant number of representations from law centres and people who deal with such work. I understand her point and agree with it. It is often not possible for family members to claim asylum because they are not in the UK. They therefore do not get the benefit of legal aid. The UK Border Agency often requires evidence of the relationship. That is not surprising and it is perfectly proper. People are asked to undergo DNA tests. Spouses are asked to produce evidence of their marriage. That might be straightforward, but it might not be, either in law or in practice.