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Response to Lord Neuberger's claims about legal aid cuts

5 March 2013

Responding to Lord Neuberger's claims about legal aid cuts, Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:

"Legal aid cuts mean over half a million people in need of in-depth debt, benefits, family, housing and employment advice will be denied the help and justice they need.  

There will be a justice gap between those who can afford to pay for legal advice and those who can’t.  The poorest will be unable to challenge bad decisions about benefits, unfair dismissal at work and struggle to manage any debts they might have.

"Legal aid benefits advice helps the most vulnerable people secure the income they are entitled to by law, which puts food on their table and allows them to heat their homes.

"By nipping problems in the bud before they escalate and spiral out of control, Citizen Advice Bureau volunteers help to keep people out of court and facing costly legal proceedings. Legal aid cuts threaten this, introducing additional pressures for staff, new costs for clients and new costs to the taxpayer.  

"The Government's expected £350m savings will be a drop in the ocean compared to the cost these cuts will have on people's lives."

Notes to editors:

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
  3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk. You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk
  4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers
  5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
  6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.