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 6:02 pm on 18 January 2022.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 6:02, 18 January 2022

Thank you for that, and thank you for the consistent way in which you are raising this issue of access to justice, because it's important to everybody within Wales, in devolved and non-devolved areas. You raise the issues of Grenfell and Hillsborough. I would add to that the long-standing issue in terms of the coroner's courts and how that ought to be something that is devolved, after all, it is funded by the local authorities. The full provision there is made by local authorities; it's paid for out of money that comes ultimately from Welsh Government. So, there is a logic there to some of these particular changes.

I agree with you very much about the point you made and I think that others have made, and that is the imbalance that exists within our justice system, and that is why we have these fundamental arguments for reform, because, as I've said, this actually should not be a party political issue; this is about fundamental democracy, fundamental issues around the rule of law.

Can I say, in terms of the last point you tempted me to comment on, which I normally wouldn't but on this occasion I will, just how impressed I've been by the Scottish Conservatives at least taking a stand in respect of their political interest in respect of Scotland? And how disappointing it is on an issue where, whatever their political persuasion is, people should be standing up for something that is clearly of importance to the people of Wales, rather than a sort of banal subservience to Westminster, irrespective of the logics and the merits of the arguments that we've been discussing today. I really do hope that will change, because we could make so much more progress in terms of the reform and the devolution of justice if we had the Welsh Conservatives actually talking about what I suspect they know is right but are not prepared to actually put their heads above the parapet to take that particular stance. So, that is the particular change I want there.

But in terms of the overall progress, there are three elements to it, I think. One is that we will work increasingly collaboratively with UK Government and the Ministry of Justice on those areas that are non-devolved but where we can work for the benefit of the people of Wales. Secondly, we will be increasingly putting the case as to how we can make justice better in Wales and the things that we want to see changed. Thirdly, I think we have to start preparing for the structure of what a new Welsh justice system would look like, because I agree very much with what Lord Thomas said—it's not a question of if, but when, and we have to be prepared for that. Of course, one of the key triggering factors may well be the moves in terms of the reforms of that part of the justice system that already we are responsible for, and that is the tribunals service. Thank you for your question.