Livability, alongside thirty-one charities, advice and legal organisations, has just signed a joint letter calling for Peers to carefully consider the impact of cuts to legal aid on individuals.
The letters points out that over 78,000 disabled people and 140,000 children will be denied help if the Bill goes through.
This also follows up on an independent report from Kings College London, launched 9 January 2012, showing that over half of government’s proposed savings will be wiped out as costs are just passed on to other departments.
Today the Legal Aid Bill is debated in the House of Lords as peers return for the second day of Committee Stage.
Mike Smith, Chief Executive of national disability charity Livability said: ”We would urge the Government to reconsider its reform of Legal Aid. As a charity, we are concerned that these changes could mean that up to 78,000 disabled people will no longer receive help. The benefit system is extremely complex and at a time when the Disability Living Allowance is being reformed, it is essential that disabled people have access to the right legal advice and support. Peers must consider this carefully and insure that vulnerable and disabled people do not end up paying a high price for inappropriate reforms.’’
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