Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 30
30
Deferred
Paragraph: 114
We welcome the Government’s decision to review the means test for both civil and criminal...
Recommendation
We welcome the Government’s decision to review the means test for both civil and criminal legal aid. There is a strong consensus among witnesses that any revised means test for civil legal aid should be simpler, for example by using passporting, should be set at an objectively defined poverty line and should be regularly uprated. The vast majority of taxpayers are not eligible for civil legal aid, and for those that are, it is often difficult to access.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government states its Means Test Review is considering a full range of criteria, including passporting and capital thresholds, to ensure access to justice for low-income individuals.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
114
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
The Means Test Review is considering the full range of means-testing criteria, including income and capital thresholds and passporting provisions for people receiving certain benefits, and will look at whether capital passporting for civil legal aid applicants should be reintroduced. This review is looking at proposals that will ensure access to justice, especially for those on low incomes.
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