WITHDRAWAL OF LEGAL AID FOR EPILEPSY DRUG COURT CASE

Early day motion 1035, tabled 17 November 2010 by Teresa Pearce (Labour). Signed by 80 members.

That this House notes with regret the decision of the Legal Services Commission to withdraw funding from the claimants in the Fetal Anti-Convulsant Litigation; further notes that the Legal Services Commission first tried to withdraw funding in 2008 but that the decision was reversed when faced with a judicial review; further notes that the withdrawal of this funding is likely to lead to the abandonment of the current action with the result that the claims will then fall outside the 10 year limitation rule; regrets that key evidence around this issue will then remain confidential; strongly regrets the lost opportunity for the parents and children to have the facts and responsibilities in the case decided in open court; and calls on the Government to urge the Legal Services Commission to reconsider its decision to withdraw legal aid funding.

Signatures by party: Labour 56, Liberal Democrat 15, Conservative 5, Plaid Cymru 2, Green 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.