The continual introduction of legal aid funding restrictions is likely to deter lawyers from representing people in immigration and asylum appeals, an influential committee of MPs has warned.
The report from the House of Commons constitutional affairs committee came as the Refugee Council said new regulations, to be launched on 4 April, would make it harder for asylum seekers to get legal representation.
The committee said lawyers "should not have to gamble on funding decisions" when considering whether asylum seekers faced possible human rights concerns if they were deported.
It also said the government test on qualifying for legal aid was set "too high".
- Legal aid: asylum appeals is at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmconst/276/276.pdf.
