Law centres have called on
the Prime Minister to reassess how the vulnerable gain access to the
law.
The key messages contained
in a letter to Blair are;
a. Social Welfare Law is
an important element of the Welfare State
b. £50 million has been
cut from the Civil Legal Aid budget since the introduction of the CLS
c. The cuts have
severely impacted on Social welfare law
d. High Street solicitors
have been largely driven out of legal aid with no replacement
e. Local Authorities are
also reducing funding to advice services
f. Funding that did exist
for community work and legal education has virtually disappeared
g The result of the cuts
is homelessness, families living below the poverty line.
Law Centres believe that
we need ring fenced civil legal aid budget, replacement of the funding
that has been cut and a separate fund for non direct work.
John
Nicholson, Practice Manager of Bury Law Centre said
&We hope to encourage awareness -
and resulting Government action - to ensure that everyone in need has
access to high quality, free, legal help in their own communities."
January 2005
