27. Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received from people in West Yorkshire over his proposals to change the procedure for the allocation of legal aid; and if he will make a statement. [37953]
§ Mr. StreeterMy Department has received many representations about the Lord Chancellor's plans to reform the legal aid scheme in England and Wales, two of which came from people in West Yorkshire. Neither was from the hon. Gentleman.
Mr. O'BrienWill the Minister accept that there is much concern in West Yorkshire about the way in which the current legal aid system, and the Government's plans for it, is causing harm to many people who rely on legal aid to pursue justice through courts? Will he ensure that people from lower income groups are able to obtain legal aid more easily?
§ Mr. StreeterWe wish to ensure that no one is denied access to justice simply because of the depth or shallowness of his pockets. Indeed, our reforms are designed to increase access to justice. The hon. Gentleman appears to be slightly out of the touch with the people of West Yorkshire. Only two of them have written to me about our legal aid reforms. One of them, a Mr. Nickolls from Bradford, wrote:
Anyway, on legal aid at least, the correct things are now being said … so British justice might not be entirely dead yet—just taking a long time to come out of intensive care! Don't take years to get something done
§ Sir Donald ThompsonDoes my hon. Friend realise that in my part of West Yorkshire all the complaints are 460 from people who are being pursued, often frivolously, by those who can get legal aid? Those with legal aid put down people who cannot, often wrongly.
§ Mr. StreeterMy hon. Friend is right. There is now a dramatic imbalance between those who are entitled to legal aid suing those who are not entitled. Our reforms are designed to get to the heart of the problem and to redress that imbalance, which has crept in over the past few years.