Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with the (i) Scottish Government and (ii) the Scottish Legal Aid Board on potential implications for legal aid of the Illegal Migration Bill.

The Government has engaged with the Scottish Government regarding legal aid in connection with the Illegal Migration Bill. Officials in the Ministry of Justice have confirmed with Scottish Government officials that no legislative changes are required in Scotland to ensure equivalent provision of legal aid for individuals in receipt of a removal notice, in relation to that removal notice, will be available as will be in England and Wales. We will continue to engage with our Scottish counterparts as necessary.