Avon and Bristol Law Centre speaks up against cuts to discrimination work

The Law Centre turned attention to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's decision to axe grants that fund discrimination cases, which would not normally get legal aid

EHRC’s decision to discontinue its discrimination casework grants must be considered together with the planned cuts to the scope of legal aid. Instead, the government is considering the introduction of a call centre to provide initial information.

On Friday, Will Stone of Avon and Bristol Law Centre discussed the serious implications of the cuts on BBC Radio Bristol, for example, for people with a disability. Listen to this on iplayer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p003yjn9 (iplayer pops up in a separate window, the item is one hour 10 minutes into the programme).

The casework grants cuts were also the top story on BBC Somerset on Monday morning. Will Stone, who is a solicitor at ABLC, said that last year the Law Centre had helped 250 local people with discrimination problems under the scheme, which is to be scrapped at the end of March. Listen at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00nmwx3 (iplayer opens in a separate window, the full item is one hour and 34 minutes into the programme).

[Please note that the broadcasts are only available on iplayer until 20 February]

Published: Tue 14 Feb, 2012