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This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the debate to be held on 11 July on “the effect of cuts in legal aid funding on the justice system in England and Wales”. The Note contains a brief summary of the development of legal aid, focussing on changes since the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, before summarising the most recent consultation paper, Transforming Legal Aid: Delivering a More Credible and Transparent System. The Note then outlines reactions to the latest proposals and summarises recent parliamentary scrutiny of the proposed changes.


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