Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with Citizens Advice on legal aid provision in rural areas.

People in England and Wales should be able to access legal aid services regardless of where they live, provided they meet the relevant eligibility criteria. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is responsible for commissioning legal aid services across the country to ensure coverage in rural areas. It monitors the numbers of providers in each procurement area and across all categories of law. It takes operational action where possible, to respond to market pressures that may arise and works closely with the Ministry of Justice on policy solutions concerning the supply of legal aid.

In the recent consultation on immigration and housing legal aid fees, the Ministry of Justice gathered evidence on ways to improve providers’ ability to provide advice remotely and flexibly across all categories of civil legal aid, while maintaining effective arrangements for clients who need face to face advice. Greater use of remote video technology can enable people to access a wide range of specialist advice wherever they are in the country. In addition, legal advice for education, discrimination, housing and debt issues is always available through the Civil Legal Advice telephone service, wherever you are in England and Wales.

Moreover, individuals facing the loss of their home can access early legal advice in respect of housing, debt and welfare benefit issues on a remote basis under the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS).

As part of the £24 million increase for criminal solicitors implemented in 2024, the Ministry of Justice is paying for travel time for solicitors who work or commute to work in a small number of scheme areas with fewer than two legal aid providers, as well as the Isle of Wight.

The Ministry of Justice and Legal Aid Agency continue to work closely with Citizens Advice on legal aid and legal support. Citizen Advice holds contracts across a number of civil legal aid categories, including housing and debt and HLPAS, and is represented at the Legal Aid Agency Civil Contracts Consultative Group (CCCG), where issues such as provision and capacity are discussed. I recently met with its Chief Executive who also sits on the Legal Support Strategy Delivery Group which is comprised of key stakeholders from the advice sector. This group is working with the Ministry of Justice to develop and implement a long-term programme of work to improve the legal support system across the country, making it more effective, efficient and sustainable.