Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the effectiveness of the Solicitors' Qualifying Examination in inculcating and testing legal writing skills.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
As the legal profession in England and Wales, and the bodies that regulate it, are independent from government, we have not made any assessment of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination. As set out in the Legal Services Act 2007, it will be a matter for the Legal Services Board to determine whether to approve proposals for changes to the qualification arrangements for solicitors brought forward by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the effectiveness of exclusively multiple choice testing in the Solicitors' Qualifying Examination as a way of maintaining standards of legal service to consumers.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
As the legal profession in England and Wales, and the bodies that regulate it, are independent from government, we have not made any assessment of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination. As set out in the Legal Services Act 2007, it will be a matter for the Legal Services Board to determine whether to approve proposals for changes to the qualification arrangements for solicitors brought forward by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the conclusion of the Equality and Human Rights Commission review published on 3 April, Being disabled in Britain: a journey less equal, that changes to legal aid in England and Wales have negatively affected disabled people's access to justice; and to the finding that a 54 per cent drop between 2012–13 and 2015–16 in employment tribunal claims on grounds of disability discrimination.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
The Government is considering the recommendations of the review and will respond in due course.
The reforms to the scope of civil legal aid were designed to refocus funding on those who need it most and on the most serious cases in which legal advice and representation are justified. We have specifically protected legal aid (both for initial advice and representation), subject to the statutory means and merits tests, for civil legal services provided in relation to contravention of the Equality Act 2010. Publicly funded advice continues to be available for Employment Tribunal discrimination claims, and publicly funded advice and representation is available in the Employment Appeal Tribunal.
The Government’s review of the impact of the introduction of fees in the Employment Tribunals was published on 31 January 2017. The review included proposals to extend the support available under the Help with Fees scheme. The Government is considering the responses to the consultation and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to bring forward legislation on binding pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements.
Answered by Lord Faulks
The Law Commission has undertaken a review of elements of the law in this area and published its report on Matrimonial Property, Needs and Agreements last year, following wide consultation. The review looked in particular at the treatment of nuptial agreements, financial needs and matrimonial property in financial relief cases. The Government is carefully considering the Law Commission’s recommendations and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to review the law relating to financial provisions on divorce.
Answered by Lord Faulks
The Law Commission has undertaken a review of elements of the law in this area and published its report on Matrimonial Property, Needs and Agreements last year, following wide consultation. The review looked in particular at the treatment of nuptial agreements, financial needs and matrimonial property in financial relief cases. The Government is carefully considering the Law Commission’s recommendations and will respond in due course.