Supreme Court: President Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Supreme Court: President

Baroness Deech Excerpts
Wednesday 16th November 2011

(13 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord McNally Portrait Lord McNally
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Indeed. I always go along with the dictum of Denis Healey—the noble Lord, Lord Healey—that you should look for people with hinterland.

Baroness Deech Portrait Baroness Deech
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My Lords, do the Government acknowledge that the combination of high tuition fees and the cuts in legal aid will have a very bad impact on diversity at the young end of the legal profession, especially the Bar, and that there will be less diversity in years to come unless it is made possible for young people of all backgrounds to get a start at the Bar?

Lord McNally Portrait Lord McNally
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We will be debating in the near future the cuts in legal aid. Where I do share concerns is that to get into the legal profession, whether as a barrister or a solicitor, requires a financial commitment that could have an adverse effect on social mobility. That is something that the Government will have to address.