Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted in Part
LAA acknowledges persistent legal aid gaps in housing and debt, with flawed capacity assessments.
Conclusion
LAA did, however, acknowledge that there are still gaps in securing sufficient provision of legal aid across the country, particularly for housing and debt advice.30 MoJ explained that LAA is currently meeting its standard of ensuring there is at least one provider for the different types of legal aid (five providers for family cases) in each of its procurement areas, except for housing and debt where 19 areas lack face-to-face provision. It stated that LAA has worked to ensure that seven of these areas are supported through outreach arrangements with neighbouring areas, which it is working to replicate in the remaining areas.31 Written evidence we received from Public Law Project stressed that LAA’s capacity assessments are based on a relatively low level of coverage in each procurement area, not on how active or effective coverage is in each area.32 Understanding the wider costs of legal aid reforms
Government Response Summary
The Government is taking steps to support these sectors with uplifts for controlled immigration & asylum and housing and debt legal aid work and secured outreach provision in eight of the 21 areas with a further six outreach offers currently being assessed and will report back to the Committee in Autumn 2026 on insight-led action to take forward.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
3.5 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2026 3.6 The department recognises the Committee’s concern about legal aid provision, and the department would draw the Committee’s attention to the letter of 6 November 2025 in which the MoJ outlined relevant policy and operational actions. 3.7 The Committee highlighted specific concerns around face-to-face provision for housing and debt advice. The Government is taking steps to support these sectors. Uplifts for controlled immigration & asylum and housing and debt legal aid work, generally early legal advice, some legal representation, and Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS), have now been implemented. This first step will inject an additional £18 million into the civil legal aid sector each year. An additional £2 million for licensed housing and immigration work, typically legal representation, will be delivered separately and as soon as possible 3.8 The LAA advertised areas where housing and debt coverage is required on a number of occasions during 2025 and as of January 2026 have secured outreach provision in eight of the 21 areas with a further six outreach offers currently being assessed. Six strategic market engagement events have been held since 26 January - promotion of these started on 12 January via Market engagement: Legal Aid for Housing and Debt - GOV.UK and Twitter. These sessions are designed to directly address barriers to provision in the remaining areas. Insights gathered will inform what further operational interventions can be made by LAA to secure coverage, and the department will report back to the Committee in Autumn 2026 on insight-led action to take forward.