Low Commission report calls for fresh aproach to social welfare law advice
In the report the commission calls for a national strategy for advice and legal support, to replace the current piecemeal approach, which is failing to protect the poorest and most vulnerable. It also calls for a £100m implementation fund – with half the money coming from central government, and half raised from other sources, including a levy on payday loan companies.
Other recommendations include:
– Creation of a new, cross-departmental ministerial post, to oversee implementation of the advice and legal support strategy;
– Restoring legal aid for housing cases so people can get help before they face imminent eviction;
– Urgent reform of the ‘safety net provisions’, introduced by the Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Act, which are proving unwieldy and unworkable.
During its year-long inquiry, the Low Commission heard evidence from around the country:
– Tameside, near Manchester – 5-week wait for appointments at local Citizens Advice Bureau; only 10% of those needing specialist help are able to be referred on (down from 50%);
– Gloucester: housing charity Shelter has closed its office, the CAB has gone into administration; while Gloucester Law Centre is still going, demand for immigration and debt advice has doubled, compared with last year;
– Birmingham: local CAB lost more than half its local authority grant (down from £590,000 to £265,000), plus £700,000 in legal aid funding;
– Sutton: CAB has seen trebling of demand for welfare benefit appeal advice in last three years;
– Swansea & Neath Port Talbot: CAB has had to axe 12 out of 36 staff posts because of 30% cuts in budget.
