Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Liz Kendall and Jonathan Djanogly

Tuesday 17th May 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Djanogly]

I think that I answered that question previously. I certainly believe that we have listened and engaged fully.

[Liz Kendall]

The Minister has just said that he wants his plans to protect the most vulnerable, but his own impact assessment says that low-income families, women and minority ethnic groups will be disproportionately affected. Can he explain how that is fair?

[Mr Djanogly]

Legal aid per se involves poor people, so if we are going to reduce costs it will impact on poor people. It is true that individuals with protected equality characteristics are over-represented within the current client base of civil and family legal aid when compared with the population as a whole, although the extent of that varies by category of law.