Abu Qatada legal aid at £500,000........ Homeless people freeze
no reality | 16.12.2012 19:36
The legal aid bill for radical cleric Abu Qatada - whose deportation to Jordan was blocked last month - stands at £515,778 and is rising.
Why isn't this money spent on the poor instead?
How many homeless people could be sheltered for this much money?
Why is this man selfishly taking all the money for himself?
Why isn't this money spent on the poor instead?
How many homeless people could be sheltered for this much money?
Why is this man selfishly taking all the money for himself?
The figure represents costs up to 5 December but more bills are still to be submitted, Justice Minister Jeremy Wright wrote in a Parliamentary answer.
Labour MP Valerie Vaz said while legal aid for others was being cut, a large sum had been given to a single person.
Ministers have already ordered an inquiry into the legal aid system.
Ms Vaz - who posed the question about Abu Qatada's legal aid bill - said the public could not understand plans to cut Legal Aid "when a large amount of public funds has been given to one person's case".
She added: "With cuts to legal aid and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, it is vital to monitor how public money is being spent and this information should be in the public domain."
A fortnight ago, Home Secretary Theresa May won permission to appeal against a decision by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) to block terror suspect Abu Qatada's deportation.
He faces a re-trial in Jordan for allegedly conspiring to cause explosions targeting Western and Israeli targets before the year 2000. He was found guilty of terrorism offences in his absence.
Justice Minister Mr Wright wrote that legal aid payments for Mr Qatada's case had been paid by the Legal Services Commission (LSC).
"The LSC have not received final claims from Abu Qatada's solicitors, but have confirmed that they had provided £515,778 in legal aid funding to Abu Qatada as of December 5," he added.
Labour MP Valerie Vaz said while legal aid for others was being cut, a large sum had been given to a single person.
Ministers have already ordered an inquiry into the legal aid system.
Ms Vaz - who posed the question about Abu Qatada's legal aid bill - said the public could not understand plans to cut Legal Aid "when a large amount of public funds has been given to one person's case".
She added: "With cuts to legal aid and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, it is vital to monitor how public money is being spent and this information should be in the public domain."
A fortnight ago, Home Secretary Theresa May won permission to appeal against a decision by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) to block terror suspect Abu Qatada's deportation.
He faces a re-trial in Jordan for allegedly conspiring to cause explosions targeting Western and Israeli targets before the year 2000. He was found guilty of terrorism offences in his absence.
Justice Minister Mr Wright wrote that legal aid payments for Mr Qatada's case had been paid by the Legal Services Commission (LSC).
"The LSC have not received final claims from Abu Qatada's solicitors, but have confirmed that they had provided £515,778 in legal aid funding to Abu Qatada as of December 5," he added.
no reality
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