Oral Answers to Questions

Maggie Throup Excerpts

Thursday 23rd May 2019 Commons Chamber

[Alex Chalk (Cheltenham) (Con)]

1. What steps he has taken to encourage legal professionals to undertake pro bono work in the last 12 months. [R]

[Maggie Throup (Erewash) (Con)]

3. What steps he has taken to encourage legal professionals to undertake pro bono work in the last 12 months.

[Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)]

7. What steps he has taken to encourage legal professionals to undertake pro bono work in the last 12 months.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Solicitor General]

My hon. Friend is a very well respected criminal barrister and has done a great amount of work here as a member of the Justice Committee. He is absolutely right to highlight the incredible work that lawyers undertake for free, which does go unrecognised. He is also right to highlight the Manchester attack. We are in the anniversary week of that terrible tragedy and my thoughts are with all those who have suffered. The Manchester Law Society did a call for support and over 100 firms and barristers offered free advice and representation.

[Maggie Throup]

I welcome my hon. and learned Friend to her new role and wish her every success.

As has already been said, pro bono law work is an important resource for all of us as constituency MPs. Given that fact, as well as the message we have heard that lots of pro bono work is being carried out, will my hon. and learned Friend outline what more can be done to encourage law firms and universities outside London to provide more pro bono work?

[The Solicitor General]

That is a good point, because students can play a critical role in giving support, and of course both London and the regions need to help and support those in need. In my role as a constituency MP, I was at the Anglia Law School law clinic only few weeks ago. It brings law firms in Cambridge together with those studying at the local university to help to support people.