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Lords vote against plans to restrict legal aid for children

Peers have voted against government plans to restrict legal aid for around 6,000 children.

The government hopes the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Offenders Bill will save £350m in legal aid costs by 2015, however, members of the House of Lords were concerned this would mean 6,000 children would no longer qualify.

The peers voted for an amendment that would ensure legal aid continued for children in all cases currently covered by the service.

Speaking in favour of the amendment, former Paralympic athlete and cross bencher Baroness Grey-Thompson said: "Children are not adults, they do not have the capacity to represent themselves or to interpret the thousands of pages of laws and regulations that affect them."

Among those children who could miss out are those involved in civil cases such as taking their council to court over an education matter.

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