Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to widen access to justice for people applying for settlement under the Immigration Rules.

Legal aid has been and will continue to be available for asylum cases, for victims of domestic abuse and modern slavery, for separated migrant children and for immigration cases where someone is challenging a detention decision.

Where an issue falls outside the scope of legal aid, funding may still be available through the Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) Scheme.

We are expanding legal aid provision through the Nationality and Borders Bill, facilitating access to justice for individuals applying under the Immigration Rules.

We are providing up to seven hours of legal advice without the need for financial eligibility testing for individuals at risk of priority removal from the country, alongside legal advice for potential victims of modern slavery, to ensure that potential victims can be properly identified and supported throughout the process.

We are reviewing responses received to our call for evidence on immigration legal aid fees and the online tribunal procedure. We will publish a consultation on new immigration legal aid fees in this year.