Cuts to free legal services may 'worsen situation for deaf community'

The government's aim to cut the legal advice budget could have a negative impact on the UK's deaf community, it has been claimed.

Neil Rose, editor of LegalFutures.co.uk, wrote for the Guardian that if the cuts are carried out, the costs of interpreters as a disbursement will not be able to be claimed on legal aid by law firms and legal advice providers.

He said that this would be in addition to some deaf people no longer being able to afford legal advice, which he said was a "woeful prospect".

"This means the number of providers willing to provide legal advice to deaf people is likely to decline," solicitor Rob Wilks told the news source.

In addition, the proposed cuts to free legal advice services were also criticised by Paul Heron, a legal aid solicitor, who wrote for Socialistparty.org.uk that the principles of justice were threatened by the bill.