PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Legal Aid Scheme: Domestic Abuse (6 October 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department accepts health visitors as suitable professionals to complete and sign the letter Response from health professional to request for evidence of injuries/condition consistent with domestic violence in pursuit of the granting of legal aid.

Asked by:
Rosie Duffield (Independent)

The Government is absolutely clear that victims of domestic violence must have access to the help that they need, including access to legal aid.

The existing regulations make clear that, for the purpose of the domestic violence evidence requirements for legal aid, a “health professional” means a registered (a) medical practitioner who holds a license to practice; b) nurse; (c) midwife; or (d) practitioner psychologist who holds a licence to practice. Evidence from a health visitor will be accepted providing that they are a qualified nurse, midwife or licensed practitioner psychologist.

Answered by:
Dominic Raab (Conservative)
12 October 2017