Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 5:47 pm on 31 October 2002.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Lord Phillips of Sudbury Lord Phillips of Sudbury Liberal Democrat 5:47, 31 October 2002

My Lords, in making this brief point, I declare an interest: my firm gives a great deal of legal aid advice in precisely the circumstances contemplated by this clause.

When the department responded to the 17th report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, it stated that the Government were committed to providing,

"free, independent, quality legal advice".

The word that concerns me is "quality". The law relating to this area is often extremely difficult. It depends for its effectiveness on the lawyer having a deep and extensive practical knowledge of both the law and the issues. I believe, therefore, that without an amendment of this nature there is a real prospect that those needing legal advice may be presented only with an opportunity of obtaining it from organisations which are simply not up to the task in the circumstances concerned.