John Ruggie issues warning over cuts to free legal advice

The government's cuts to free legal services have been criticised from a number of quarters, with the most recent person to add their voice to the debate being John Ruggie, the United Nations' special representative for business and human rights.

He recently told the UK authorities that alterations to lawyers' fees and cuts to free legal services will result in claims not being reported, the Guardian said.

In a letter to UK justice minister Jonathan Djanogly, Mr Ruggie, a Harvard University lawyer, said that the move would introduce "disincentives".

"Three related aspects of the proposed reforms could, when implemented together, constitute a significant barrier to legitimate business-related human rights claims being brought before UK courts in situations where alternative sources of remedy are unavailable," Mr Ruggie said.

He said that the government's planned cuts to free legal services could see claimant not going for conditional fee agreements as they could cost too much.

Earlier this month, people held a march in Hastings to demonstrate their opposition to the government's plans, with about 200 people travelling from Hastings Pier to the town hall, the Hastings Observer reported.

Published by Hannah Carr