Shadow Social Justice Minister and North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has again highlighted the UK Government and UK Parliament actions to deliver access to justice and asked how the Welsh Government will engage positively with them on this agenda.
Questioning the Counsel General as Shadow Counsel General in today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, he said:
“Responding to your Statement ‘Legal Aid and Access to Justice’ here three weeks ago, I referred to: - That week’s UK Government’s announcement of additional funding into the Family Mediation Scheme to help thousands more families avoid the Court room. - Last July’s House of Commons Justice Committee report on ‘The Future of Legal Aid’, which identified ‘a real need for a more flexible scheme that allows anyone with a legal problem, who cannot afford a lawyer, to access early legal advice’. - and the UK Government’s ‘Legal Aid Means Test Review’ as part of its broader Legal Support Action Plan.
“I asked what engagement you have had with the UK Government regarding these matters and the consultation which will follow? Your response failed to answer my question, or even acknowledge the actions regarding legal aid being taken by both the current UK Government and the current UK Parliament.
“How will you engage positively with this to ensure synergy with devolved services, maximising the strengths of both Governments to a common end?”
In his response, the Counsel General said he has met with Lord Bellamy to discuss the review in respect of criminal legal aid,
He said: “I again raised the issue of Lord Bellamy's proposals with regard to criminal legal aid, and, in particular, some of the recommendations that have been made in the need to properly fund, to deal with the issue of some of the advice deserts that we actually have. And we're still awaiting a decision from UK Government as to what they intend with that.”