Parts of Yorkshire are 'legal aid deserts', report finds
Swathes of Yorkshire are “legal aid deserts” with minimal face-to-face help to access publicly funded legal support, a new report has found.
The Public Accounts Committee of MPs, which scrutinises government spending, said it had “deep concern” that it was getting harder for people to access legal aid.
Legal aid provides legal advice, family mediation and representation in a court or tribunal for those that cannot afford.
However, the PAC report said in many parts of the country there are few face to face services, with people relying on online help.
It explained that “‘legal aid deserts’ … risk disproportionately penalising groups that cannot access remote advice”.
“Groups affected can include people with a disability or those who have limited access to technology.”
In a letter from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to the PAC, the Government confirmed that Barnsley, Hull, Doncaster, the East Riding of Yorkshire and Rotherham all lack face-to-face support for housing and debt advice through legal aid.
It said the Legal Aid Agency working to ensure these local authorities are “supported through outreach arrangements from neighbouring areas”.
“Whilst we continue our efforts to secure local provision, those requiring services can access them through the national Civil Legal Advice telephone or instruct providers in neighbouring procurement areas either in person or remotely,” MoJ permanent secretary Dr Jo Farrer added.
However, the PAC said the Government appears to be “stubbornly uninterested” about why access to legal aid is getting harder.
“The reforms of a decade ago are now at serious risk of going down in history as an extinction event for the entitlement to access to legal advice in large parts of the country,” chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown explained.
“Our report finds government remaining stubbornly uninterested in whether this is the case, but it must now wake up on this subject.
“If it refuses to, the MoJ should, frankly, consider changing its name to the Ministry of Justice (for Certain People).
“This might be more appropriate for a nation without a sustainable solution in the long-term to provide legal aid to the digitally-excluded quarter of the population who need it most.”
Despite the response from the permanent secretary, the PAC said it is “still unconvinced that the MoJ has done enough to ensure the future sustainability of the legal aid market”.
Sir Geoffrey added: “The criminal justice system remains in crisis, end to end.” The MoJ has been contacted for comment.