Today at Justice Questions in Parliament I highlighted how the government cuts to legal aid are hitting the family courts in Newport East.

Since the Government’s cutbacks to legal aid in April 2013, many constituents have been in touch who now find themselves without access to legal aid in custody cases.  Parents are increasingly having to represent themselves and cases are therefore taking much longer to resolve as I pointed out in my question.

The number of parents in cases involving children without legal representation has jumped up 48% nationally since the changes.

With the legal community increasingly highlighting the negative impact of the cuts, it is important we continue to press Government Ministers to ensure that all in our community can get access to justice.

You can see a link to my question here.