Sex abuse victims could suffer from legal aid cuts, MPs warn

Justice Committee sets out the impact of family courts the government's plan to reduce the budget

sexually abused are at risk of being challenged in court by his tormentors, unless the government makes legal assistance in such cases, according to a report by the committee House of Commons' justice selection.

The increase in unrepresented litigants, provided in the government's plans to save £ 350 million annual bill of £ 1.2 billion legal aid, would flood the system with applicants, without the experience and disoriented, the parliamentary report on the functioning of family courts, said.

The most serious impact is likely to be in abuse cases, where lawyers working on a pro bono or guardians of children were put into service to avoid questioning suspects their victims in court.

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an ad hoc provision could be overwhelmed, fear of the Committee on Justice, unless additional funds are available for lawyers.

"The increase in litigants in person will result in more cases where an alleged perpetrator asks the person he or she allegedly abused," says the report released Thursday.

"It is recommended that the Department of Justice believes that the court can recommend that legal aid is granted to provide counsel to conduct the interview in such cases.

"Currently there are no rules to prevent litigants in person interviewed alleged victims of abuse, whether children or adults."

The report states that Sir Nicholas Wall, the head of the Family Division of the Court, informed the members that there was no provision in the law of the family to prevent the accused to question the victim.

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• Mrs Justice Pauffley
• told MPs: "The only way I've seen that has made is that the child's guardian or representative to take charge of the interrogation of adolescents with a list of questions provided by the defendant, but which is less than satisfactory. "

The committee also feared repercussions from other parties representing themselves. The report said: "non-lawyers access to family courts may find confusing and frustrating ... The family court should be more sensitive to dealing with parties representing themselves and this will require procedures and guidelines developed to suit the challenges of a greater number of litigants in person.

"Currently only one in 10 parents who separate their disputes resolved in court. The evidence we received is that many of these parents have multiple problems.

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