Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Paragraph: 98
We suggest that the civil legal aid system needs an updated version of the Green...
Conclusion
We suggest that the civil legal aid system needs an updated version of the Green Form scheme, which was introduced in 1973, that would allow individuals to understand their rights and be directed to the services that are most appropriate for their situation. One suggestion we have received is that the Government could develop and pilot an ambitious and economically viable early advice scheme, that enables individuals to access timely legal and expert advice. Rather than being constrained by issues of scope, such a scheme should be strategically targeted at those who would most benefit from early advice.
Paragraph Reference:
98
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
We are developing an early legal advice pilot, which was a commitment in the Legal Support Action Plan. The pilot will test the impact of early legal advice in social welfare law (specifically focused on housing, debt and welfare benefit issues) on resolving people’s problems earlier, and particularly the impact this may have on longer-term housing problems. The pilot will target this advice at a pool of people identified as being in need, for example individuals who have fallen into a certain type of arrears. We will then test the impact of this advice against a control group to attempt to quantify the impact of intervening earlier. We will announce further details of the pilot in due course.