Post by Colin Henderson on Mar 5, 2012 22:10:48 GMT
And it ends with another small but significant concession. Under pressure of Labour and LibDem amendments, McNally concedes that there will be a government amendment on Third Reading giving the Lord Chancellor the power to expand scope of legal aid through regulations in future.
Disappointing that a number of amendments were withdrawn as the session wore on (I'm trying hard to remember this is all just a parliamentary dance) but it was a reasonable start that has embarrassed the government and shows all our lobbying worked.
Think I heard it all starts again on Wednesday rather than tomorrow?
That's right Colin tomorrow is the Commons debate on the voluntary sector and legal aid cuts in Westminster Hall-should be on TV. Wed 7 March back in the Lords to discuss social welfare law.
"Ministers hit by legal aid defeats (UKPA) – 1 hour ago The Government's controversial reforms to legal aid have taken a battering in the House of Lords as ministers suffered three defeats.
Peers voted to require legal aid protection for victims of domestic violence, to set out that everyone should have "access to legal services that effectively meet their needs" and to safeguard the independence of the director of legal aid casework.
Justice Secretary Ken Clarke's cuts to legal aid are expected to save £350 million from the Ministry of Justice budget by 2015, but they are deeply unpopular with many peers on all sides of the Lords.
The three defeats came at the start of a five-day report stage on the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.
For the Opposition, former attorney general Baroness Scotland of Asthal warned Government changes "risk turning the clock back by at least a decade and placing a number of victims at unacceptable risk".........................."
Kenneth Clarke's plans to overhaul the legal aid system took a battering last night as ministers suffered three defeats in the House of Lords.
Peers of all parties repeatedly rebelled over the Justice Secretary's moves to slash spending on legal aid by £350m.
Further defeats are expected tomorrow in the second day of the report stage of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill...................."
Gov reduced in former Labour Minister current coalition minister's Lord McNally address that it was bill to help save money re deficit reduction. Then would not give any costing of affects to other governments departments or attempt to rebut such points made.
McNally also erroneously reported tribunals did not in the main consider points of law and were concerned with financial questions.
And at points refused to give way in a tantrum
Reports these amendments will be opposed in the commons despite not having one argument in his lordships barren locker.
Best quote Lord Goldsmith "but no cat gets fat on welfare law".'
"Ministers suffer three new Lords defeats on legal aid
The government has suffered three fresh House of Lords defeats over its plans to reform the legal aid system.
Peers voted to protect free advice when people seek to challenge cuts to their benefit and when they appeal to a higher court against verdicts.
They also backed an amendment to the legal aid demand that help be kept for obtaining expert reports in clinical negligence proceedings.
Ministers suffered another three Commons defeats on legal aid on Monday.
The government wants to save £350m from the Ministry of Justice budget by 2015.
Opponents argue that cuts outlined in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill will damage people's rights, but the government says this is untrue.
'Greek parliament'
The amendment, proposed by Lib Dem Baroness Doocey, on legal aid for benefit cut challenges, passed by a majority of 39.
A second version, extending the right to appeal cases in higher courts, then passed by 28 votes.
And an amendment relating to clinical negligence got through by a majority of six.
But ministers defeated by six votes a motion proposed by crossbencher and former Paralympic athlete Baroness Grey-Thompson to bring all - not just some - aspects of clinical negligence cases back within the scope of legal aid.
Responding to the three defeats, a source close to Justice Secretary Ken Clarke told the BBC: "It's yet another example of Labour peers behaving like they're in the Greek parliament, not the House of Lords."..................."
