Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

Insert the following new Clause—

“Expert evidence

The Lord Chancellor must review the accessibility and quality of expert advice that is available for civil legal proceedings and ensure that this is maintained or improved following the commencement of this Part.”

Page 125, line 5, at end insert—

“Social welfare law

(1) Civil legal services provided in respect of a social welfare decision relating to a benefit, allowance, payment, credit or pension under—

(a) the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992;

(b) the Jobseekers Act 1995;

(c) the State Pension Credit Act 2002;

(d) the Tax Credits Act 2002;

(e) the Welfare Reform Act 2007;

(f) the Welfare Reform Act 2012; or

(g) any other enactment relating to social security.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), “civil legal services” includes—

(a) independent advice or assistance for an appeal to a second-tier tribunal; and

(b) independent advice, assistance and representation higher court of such a decision.”

Page 30, line 24, leave out subsection (4)

Page 39, line 33, at end insert—

“( ) A regulated person is not in breach of this section if—

(a) that person is a solicitor; and

(b) the body to which the payment is made in money or in kind is a registered trade union.”