7. Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: Legal Aid and Access to Justice

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:14 pm on 18 January 2022.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 5:14, 18 January 2022

Llywydd, according to the findings of the Law Society, legal aid is no longer available for many who need it. Those eligible for legal aid find it hard to access, wide gaps in provisions are not being addressed, and the Act has had a negative impact on the state and on society. It has led to the creation of a two-tier justice system, with access to justice being denied for so many people in Wales. The legal aid cuts, which is what they are, have even led to innocent people being sent to prison because they cannot secure the legal support necessary to protect their freedom.