Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Public Understanding of the Law

Thursday 13 February 2020 · 1 question

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Public legal education provides awareness about rights and responsibilities.
  • It acts as an adjunct to legal aid but is not the sole factor in challenges faced by litigants.
  • Pro bono work helps individuals who require additional support.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jessica Morden Lab Newport East
Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics
Context

In response to questions about steps taken by the Government, Jessica Morden raises concerns over public understanding due to legal aid cuts.

Question

We are seeing more and more litigants-in-person due to the Government's legal aid cuts. Many people never pursue their rights because they do not know how. What will Ministers do to help people access justice?

Answer from Michael Ellis (Minister for Policing and the Criminal Justice)

Public legal education provides awareness about rights and responsibilities. It acts as an adjunct to legal aid, but it is wrong to say that people face challenges due to public legal education alone. Pro bono work helps individuals who require additional support.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)