Submission from DAWN (Advice) Ltd (AJ
52)
POSSIBLE CUTS
TO "SOCIAL
WELFARE" RELATED
LEGAL AID
The legal aid system is due to be reviewed following
the Comprehensive Spending Review and publication of the Government
Green Paper on Reforming Legal Aid. We understand the Government
is giving serious thought to the removal of legal aid from the
following areas currently funded: debt, employment and welfare
benefits.
DAWN (Advice) Ltd relied on this funding to assist
over 16,000 clients nationwide in 2009-10. These are our most
vulnerable citizens with complex problems. The demand for advice
in social welfare law is at an all time high due to the current
economic climate, we do not see this demand diminishing any time
soon. Should the proposed cuts be implemented, thousands of clients
will be left without access to legal advice they will desperately
need.
Our organisation employs over 50 staff members, all
of these jobs would be at risk should the cuts become a reality
as we cannot see how this funding could be replaced.
We recognise that these are difficult times and tough
decisions are being made about public spending. However, it is
important to understand the impact that these cuts are likely
to have on you as a Member of Parliament and on your constituents.
I would therefore ask you to consider the following:
1. Cutting these legal advice services will
hit the most vulnerable and won't save money in the longer term
Research has shown that the "legal problems"
we help with can often, if left unresolved, lead to further problems
such as worsening mental and physical health, increased crime
and reduced employment opportunities. These additional problems
create additional demand elsewhere and the estimated cost to the
public purse of unresolved 'civil' legal problems is in the billions.
The research report Towards a Business Case for
Legal Aid published by Citizen's Advice in July 2010 demonstrates
that:
For every £1 of legal aid expenditure on debt
advice, the state potentially saves £2.98.
For every £1 of legal aid expenditure on benefits
advice, the state potentially saves £8.80.
For every £1 of legal aid expenditure on employment
advice, the state potentially saves £7.13.
2. These services provide excellent value
for money
We are all familiar with the accusations of "greedy
lawyers exploiting the legal aid syste". For social welfare
law services, nothing could be further from the truth.
DAWN (Advice) Ltd is a charity and social enterprise
and ensures that any excess funds are re-invested into the business
for the benefit of the clients we assist on a daily basis.
Our caseworkers and solicitors, renowned for their
skill, expertise and commitment, work hard to ensure that they
achieve the best possible results for their clients whilst working
under robust quality measures and strict rules on case length
which ensure that the public funding being spent is done so in
the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.
3. People won't stop needing help - so who
will provide it?
Legal problems are not going to go away. In fact,
without expert assistance to sort things out at an early stage,
it is likely that their problems will become compacted and more
difficult to resolve. Undoubtedly demands for help from GP's,
MP's, Councillors and other services will increase.
I fear that, should cuts to legal aid services go
ahead, services such as ours will close. There is every likelihood
that, in the near future, there will be a recognition from GP's,
MP's, councillors and others (due to the hardships that they will
be exposed to on an every day basis), that such services form
an essential part of the fabric of our society. Rebuilding advice
services will be costly, far more costly than retaining the services
that are already in place. The expertise that currently exists
will have been lost, resulting in poorer provision at a greater
price.
I therefore ask that you urge the Government not
to pursue these reductions. I would be happy to provide you with
any further background information that you would find helpful.
In addition, you would be most welcome to visit our organisation
and meet with our staff and clients.
January 2011
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