Select committee: Justice Committee
Conclusion 1
3rd Report – Access to Justice: Legal Aid
Published 17 Jul 2026
Addressed to Ministry of Justice
Justice Committee Access to Justice All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The eligibility threshold for criminal legal aid in the magistrates’ court is shockingly low and is contributing to increasing levels of self-representation. It is a clear denial of justice that an individual working for the national minimum wage may earn too much to be eligible for legal aid in the magistrates’ court. (Conclusion, Paragraph 11)
From: Justice Committee, 3rd Report – Access to Justice: Legal Aid (HC 541), 17 July 2026
Government response
No government response linked yet: deadline 15 October 2026, 17 days ago.