Legal Aid Scheme

(asked on 6th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications have been made to the Legal Aid Agency hardship fund in each of the last six months; and what the average amount was paid to successful applicants.


Answered by
Alex Chalk Portrait
Alex Chalk
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
This question was answered on 15th May 2020

The LAA is working to ensure it can continue to support the legal support sector, helping them maintain access to justice to their vulnerable clients. Details of what financial relief may be available for practitioners facing cashflow problems can be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/financial-relief-for-legal-aid-practitioners.

Historically, the LAA received a very low number of applications for payments made on grounds of hardship, usually numbering between 20 and 30 per year. As each claim was considered individually, the precise details of those claims processed over the last six months could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MoJ have brought in regulation changes which substantially lower the thresholds at which a hardship claim can be submitted. As a result of the increase in claims anticipated by these amendments, these claims are now being more closely monitored. These regulation changes were introduced on 1st May, and therefore data in this capacity will be generated going forward, as such claims are received.

We will continue to work with the sector to ensure that the most vulnerable in society are provided with the representation and support they need through our legal aid system.

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