Legal Aid

Lord Howarth of Newport Excerpts

Tuesday 31st January 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord McNally]

I thank my noble and learned friend for that helpful question—he is making a habit of helpful interventions. Of course we do, and nobody doubts that. That is why, as I said before, we have provided funds for this transitional period and why my honourable friend Nick Hurd is at this moment making attempts to identify funding that will give the not-for-profit sector a better long-term future. Nobody denies, underestimates or fails to appreciate the benefits of the not-for-profit sector. The key is how it will adjust to the new structure of legal services that we are bringing about by these reforms.

[Lord Howarth of Newport]

My Lords, is equality before the law not a basic liberal principle? Why has the coalition abrogated it?

[Lord McNally]

It has not.