M
Member
Speaking in the House of Commons on 13 October 2026
Debate
Courts and Tribunals BillContribution
Legal aid means tests are tougher in the magistrates court than the Crown court, and the Government’s equality assessment acknowledged that the Bill could mean that defendants who currently get legal aid in the Crown court would not get it in the magistrates court. Baron Leveson and the Justice Committee have called for the threshold in the magistrates court to be increased to stop that happening, but, as we have heard, the Government’s response published yesterday rejected that recommendation. They have said that they will look at thresholds only once the changes in the Bill have been implemented.
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