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MSPs endorse legal aid changes

17:25, Jan 29 2013

 

Controversial changes to legal aid contributions have been backed at the Scottish Parliament.

The proposals initially attracted anger from defence solicitors who also opposed moves to make them collect the money instead of the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

Following talks with the Law Society, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill agreed to raise the contribution level from the proposed £68 to £82.

The change was endorsed by opposition parties during the passage of the Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Bill which reached its third and final stage at Holyrood.

Labour voted with the SNP on the new income limit despite concerns that the overall Bill remains "bad".

Malcolm Chisholm, Labour MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, said the legislation is driven entirely by finance.

"The cabinet secretary has been forced to modify a very bad Bill so it ends up simply as a bad Bill," he said.

"That doesn't alter the fact that it still is bad."

Tory MSP Annabel Goldie offered her support and said: "I'm glad that the cabinet secretary has yielded to his metaphorical beating over the head and improved what was a poor situation and made it somewhat better."

Mr MacAskill told Parliament: "These amendments reflect concerns expressed by members of the Law Society of Scotland that the original threshold of £68 might compromise access to justice."

 

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