Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to improve access to justice for vulnerable individuals.

We are taking action across the justice system to improve access to justice for vulnerable people by strengthening legal support, investing in legal aid and making courts and tribunals more accessible.

We have made significant investments in legal aid to support the sustainability of the sector, helping to ensure vulnerable individuals can access legal aid when they need it. This includes the first major fee uplifts in civil legal aid since 1996, increasing spend on immigration and housing work by around £20 million a year once fully implemented. We have also announced up to £34 million a year for criminal legal aid advocates, alongside previous increases to criminal legal aid solicitor fees worth around £116 million a year once fully implemented.

We are providing nearly £20 million of multi-year funding for legal support services to help people with social welfare legal problems.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service continues to improve accessibility through reasonable adjustments, including interpreters, intermediaries, accessible information, digital support for those who are digitally excluded, and remote participation where appropriate. Special measures, including live links, intermediaries and pre-recorded cross-examination, are available to support vulnerable court users, with further reforms included in the Courts and Tribunals Bill.