Access to justice must be central to debate on
cuts
Law Society of Scotland president Jamie Millar said today,
Wednesday, 17 November, that the founding principles
for ensuring access to justice must remain at the forefront of
a mature debate on cuts to Scotland's justice bill.
His comments followed today's budget announcement by John
Swinney, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Finance and
Sustainable Growth.
Mr Millar said: "The government has an obligation to ensure that
we have a well funded justice system which can properly protect its
citizens and ensure their human rights are safeguarded
"The Society recognises that the legal aid budget cannot be
exempt from the scrutiny that every other budget is under. However,
cutting eight percent from the legal aid budget cannot be achieved
from efficiency savings alone. The government will have to
consider significant changes to legal aid but must also ensure
access to the justice system for those who cannot afford
it.
"The Scottish Government has identified an expansion to
the Public Defense Solicitors' Office (PDSO) scheme as
one way of making savings. However, there are still serious
questions about how such an expansion would work and the savings it
would generate. We will need to carefully examine what is proposed
and how any cost savings could be delivered.
"The Society has been in discussions with the Scottish Legal Aid
Board and others and it is essential for this constructive dialogue
to continue. It is only through a mature debate that we
will be able to protect the principles that underpin our
justice system and the public's access to that system at a time of
such austerity."
Additional savings in the operation of Scotland's court system
have also been identified. The Scottish Government last week
announced those reforms it intends to bring forward in the wake of
the review undertaken by Lord Gill to improve the civil justice
system. The Society has expressed its strong support for reform,
which will make the running of Scotland's civil courts more
cost effective while providing a better service to the public.
Commenting further on the impact of the budget on the
Society's members, Mr Millar said: "The opportunity to make change
for the better is here and despite the current financial
constraints and inevitable tough choices ahead, we must take
it. I am however very aware that the level of cuts
proposed will have a direct impact on many of our
members employed in the public sector, as well as those in
private practice firms. While we don't know just how severe that
impact might be, the Society will be ensuring that it
puts in place support for members who are affected. The legal
sector has been hard hit by the credit crunch and ensuing recession
and we will continue to provide practical support and advice for
our members."
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact Val
McEwan or Suzy Powell on 0131 226 8884 or 0131 476 8115.
Email: valeriemcewan@lawscot.org.uk
or suzypowell@lawscot.org.uk
17 November 2010