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Proceeding contribution from Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 17 April 2012. It occurred during Debate on bill on Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.


Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

I have just one or two brief remarks. I am pleased that the right hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon Hughes) said what he did, because Liberal Democrat Members in Committee did not make those points at any stage. In any case, I am glad that he said it, and I am sure he is sincere in doing so. By definition, the people whom we are dealing with are likely to be the most vulnerable in society. Our system of justice is based on the equality of arms. Unless we have equality of arms, we will prevent certain individuals from having access to justice. I do not want to be part of any legislature that will do that. I come back to my intervention on the Minister. The Government's own figures suggest savings of £1 million to £2 million. How many savings will be made when people are not allowed to be given basic advice about debts, housing, welfare and all the other problems they face? We should remember that people often face not just one problem, but five or six, as the right hon. Member for Tooting (Sadiq Khan) said.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
543 c207 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Disability Children Compensation Children in care Asylum Damages Costs Asbestosis Asbestos Legal profession Health services Evidence Legal aid scheme Immigration Liability Domestic abuse Insurance Languages Legal Services Commission Legal costs Industrial diseases Negligence Mesothelioma Social services Social security benefits Training Telephone services Law centres Lord Chancellor Citizens' advice bureaux Care leavers
Legislation
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk