Post by mr007 on Nov 1, 2011 3:43:31 GMT -8
Watch live coverage of debate on the remaining stages of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill for the second day on 1 November 2011 from 2.30pm.
MPs will focus on the government's plans to introduce a new offence of squatting, its proposals to strengthen the legal defence of householders who use force to defend their home, and its bid to abolish "indeterminate" sentences and bring in new "extended" sentences for certain violent or sexual offences.
The bill abolishes the Legal Services Commission and transfers responsibilities for legal aid in England and Wales to the Ministry of Justice.
The government plans to cut £290m from the more than £2bn annual legal aid bill.
Ministers say legal aid will end for most family cases, clinical negligence and employment law but remain for criminal cases.
The justice secretary said the current system was in need of urgent reform but critics say the changes will be a disaster for the public.
The bill also makes changes to the system of no-win no-fee cases and makes changes to the sentencing framework.
In June, Mr Clarke announced that a new offence of aggravated knife possession would be created, with a mandatory prison sentence of at least six months.
Plans to halve sentences for offenders who plead guilty early have been dropped.
The MoJ must find savings of up to 25% over the course of this Parliament if it is to meet its spending review targets.
Labour opposes cuts to legal aid provision which it claims will "devastate social welfare law".
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