Immigration Legal Aid Policy
The Ministry of Justice is reviewing its legal aid policy for immigration cases, including asylum appeals and detention matters, following reforms that restricted early legal advice provision. The policy intersects with health and social care worker immigration pathways and detention time limits. Current concerns centre on access to justice, local authority funding gaps, and the impact of accelerated asylum procedures on legal aid availability.
2025
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
Committee 14:10:00 Clause 1: Refugee Family Reunion Amendment 1 Moved by 1: Clause 1, page 1, line 2, leave out “must, within 6 months of this section coming into force” and insert “may” Lord Murray of Blidworth (Con): My Lords, …
2024
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
Second Reading 11:57:00 Moved by Baroness Hamwee: That the Bill be now read a second time. Baroness Hamwee (LD): My Lords, perhaps I should start my speech with, “As I was saying,” given that this is the fifth such Private …
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
First Reading 15:31:00 A Bill to make provision for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom to be granted to the family members of refugees and of people granted humanitarian protection; to provide for legal aid to be …
2023
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
Third Reading 10:06:00 Motion Moved by Baroness Ludford: That the Bill do now pass. Baroness Ludford (LD): With noble Lords’ indulgence, I would like to make a few remarks. I warmly thank all who have supported this Private Member’s Bill …
2022
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
Order of Commitment 15:27:00 Moved by Baroness Ludford: That the order of commitment be discharged. Baroness Ludford (LD): My Lords, I understand that no amendments have been set down to this Bill and that no noble Lord has indicated a …
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
Second Reading 13:25:00 Moved by Baroness Ludford: That the Bill be now read a second time. Baroness Ludford (LD): My Lords, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to propose Second Reading of this important Private Member’s Bill. While …
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
First Reading 15:19:00 A Bill to make provision for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom to be granted to the family members of refugees and of people granted humanitarian protection and to provide for legal aid to …
Immigration (Health and Social Care Staff) Bill — Second reading
A Bill to grant indefinite leave to remain to health and social care staff; and for connected purposes.
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
Third Reading 10:06:00 Baroness Hamwee: Moved by That the Bill be now read a third time. Baroness Hamwee (LD): On behalf of my noble friend Lady Ludford, who has had too many of those pesky little lines on a lateral …
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
Order of Commitment 15:51:00 Moved by Baroness Ludford: That the order of commitment be discharged. Baroness Ludford (LD): My Lords, I understand that no amendments have been set down to this Bill and that no noble Lord has indicated a …
2021
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
Second Reading 13:09:00 Moved by Baroness Ludford: That the Bill be now read a second time. Baroness Ludford (LD): My Lords, I am pleased to have the opportunity to propose the Second Reading of this important and, I think, timely …
We recognise the strength of Richard Miller’s suggestion that judges should be empowered to make a direction that an individual needs representation and that it should be binding on the Legal Aid Agency to provide exceptional case funding in that case. Such an approach could increase access to justice for the most vulnerable litigants and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of court proceedings.
We recognise the strength of Richard Miller’s suggestion that judges should be empowered to make a direction that an individual needs representation and that it should be binding on the Legal Aid Agency to provide exceptional case funding in that …
Immigration (Health and Social Care Staff) Bill — First reading
A Bill to grant indefinite leave to remain to health and social care staff; and for connected purposes.
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
First Reading 13:16:00 A Bill to make provision for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom to be granted to the family members of refugees and of people granted humanitarian protection; and to provide for legal aid to …
2020
Immigration (Health and Social Care Staff) Bill — First reading
A Bill to grant indefinite leave to remain to health and social care staff; and for connected purposes.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (Legal Advice and Appeals) Bill [HL]
First Reading 15:06:00 A Bill to make provision for unaccompanied asylum seeking children to receive legal advice and for extending the deadline for an unaccompanied asylum seeking child to appeal an asylum decision. The Bill was introduced by Lord Roberts …
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
First Reading 11:39:00 A Bill to make provision for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom to be granted to the family members of refugees and of people granted humanitarian protection; and to provide for legal aid to …
2019
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (Legal Advice and Appeals) Bill [HL]
First Reading 11:48:00 A Bill to make provision for unaccompanied asylum seeking children to receive legal advice and for extending the deadline for an unaccompanied asylum seeking child to appeal an asylum decision. The Bill was introduced by Baroness Hussein-Ece …
2018
Immigration (Time Limit on Detention) Bill — First reading
A Bill to make provision for a maximum period of detention under the Immigration Act 1971 of 28 days; and for connected purposes.
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
Third Reading 15:14:00 A privilege amendment was made. Bill passed and sent to the Commons.
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
Report 11:41:00 Report received.
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
Committee 11:19:00 Clause 1: Family reunion: refugees Amendment Moved by Clause 1, page 1, line 4, leave out “one or more” and insert “up to two” Lord Marlesford (Con): My Lords, I move this amendment for two reasons. First, I …
2017
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
Second Reading 10:08:00 Moved by Baroness Hamwee: That the Bill be now read a second time. Baroness Hamwee (LD): My Lords, our society recognises the plight of refugees and our moral obligations, including giving practical expression to our humanitarianism. Our …
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (Legal Advice and Appeals) Bill [HL]
First Reading 15:37:00 A Bill to make provision for unaccompanied asylum seeking children to receive legal advice and for extending the deadline for an unaccompanied asylum seeking child to appeal an asylum decision. The Bill was introduced by Lord Roberts …
Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]
First Reading 15:14:00 A Bill to make provision for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom to be granted to the family members of refugees and to refugees who are family members of British citizens and settled persons, …
2013
Foreign Nationals (Access to Public Services) Bill — Bill 66 2013-2014, as introduced
Foreign Nationals (Access to Public Services) Bill — First reading
A Bill to restrict access by foreign nationals to United Kingdom public services for which no charge is made.
Immigration Act 1971 (Amendment) Bill [HL] — HL Bill 31 2013-14, as introduced
Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Amendment) Bill — First reading
A Bill to amend the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to require the Secretary of State to review levels of asylum support annually; to require him to lay before Parliament a draft up-rating order to in