Cuts in legal aid may prove ‘unjust’

Plans to cap to five the number of hours of free legal advice
available to asylum seekers could prove unjust for torture victims
and unaccompanied minors, it was claimed last week.

Concerns were raised by the all-party parliamentary constitutional
affairs committee, which is considering government proposals to cut
up to £40m from the estimated £181m asylum legal aid
bill.

Human rights minister David Lammy said no decision had been made on
whether to exempt certain groups from the changes.

“We are looking and listening to all representations on the
subject,” he said, adding that cases involving torture did not
always need more legal input.