Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing a temporary increase in funding for the civil legal aid system while the present civil legal aid review takes place.

The purpose of review of civil legal aid is to identify evidence-based options for moving to a more effective, efficient and sustainable system for legal aid providers and the people who rely on legal aid.

Whilst the review of civil legal aid is taking place, we are continuing to make improvements across the sector to ensure legal aid is available to those who need it.

We are injecting £10m a year into housing legal aid through upcoming changes to the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme (HPCDS), to give people the best change of keeping their home when they fall into difficult financial times.

From 1 March 2023, we are broadening the evidence requirements for victims of domestic abuse applying for legal aid. Special Guardianship Orders in private law proceedings will also be brought into the scope of legal aid from 1 May 2023. This will deliver on our commitments to support victims of domestic abuse and allow special guardians to access legal aid. This means an increase in funding of £13m per year.

We are expanding legal aid provision through the Nationality and Borders Act, spending over £8m, aiming to provide advice to individuals who are prioritised for removal from the UK, and to help identify victims of modern slavery.

Legal aid provision is kept under constant review by the Legal Aid Agency, who will take immediate action to ensure there is access across England and Wales.