Examination of Witnesses

Part of Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 2:16 pm on 14 July 2011.

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Photo of Elizabeth Truss Elizabeth Truss Conservative, South West Norfolk 2:16, 14 July 2011

In answer to the question, “What kind of society do we want to be?”, I do not think that we want to be a litigious society. My fear is that the high legal aid bill is actually fuelling legal involvement in things where it should not be, such as the content of employment tribunals or the welfare system, where these issues could be easily sorted out using a proper appeals process.

I just want to come in on the point about international comparisons. The figure you quoted for New Zealand, which sounds more up to date, is almost double that of the UK. [Hon. Members: “Half.”] Sorry, the other way round. I do not think that it is right to compare the inquisitorial system. My question is about Canada. What are the income thresholds and what is the scope of cases that are eligible for legal aid in Canada? I ask that because it seems to me, when I have taken a cursory glance at these other systems, that there is generally a lower scope and lower income thresholds in those similar countries than there are here in Britain.