Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding his Department has allocated in 2015-16 for the provision of specialist legal advice and representation to new and expectant mothers who may have experienced unlawful discrimination at work.

We have specifically protected legal aid (both for initial advice and representation), subject to the statutory means and merits tests, for civil legal services provided in relation to contravention of the Equality Act 2010. Publicly funded advice continues to be available for Employment Tribunal discrimination claims, and publicly funded advice and representation is available in the Employment Appeal Tribunal. This therefore includes funding for new and expectant mothers who may have experienced discrimination.

Legal aid is a demand-led scheme and funding will be provided wherever the statutory tests are met. The Department does not allocate a specific amount in advance.