Jamieson calls for better legal protection for home owners - "Credit crunch means access to justice is vital"

5 August 2008


Labour leadership contender Cathy Jamieson today called for the SNP to follow the lead of the Labour Government at Westminster and ensure Scottish families have the same legal protection as families across England and Wales.

UK Housing Minister Caroline Flint announced in May this year a £10m package of measures to support people facing mortgage repossession at the county court.

In Scotland support is now very difficult to obtain in housing cases and as the since the SNP, Conservatives and Lib Dems voted in the Justice Committee to increase civil court fees by 50 per cent it is thought access to justice will be even more diminished.

Cathy Jamieson said:

"Kenny MacAskill was asked to take a decision earlier this year to follow the UK lead but he chose to ignore the needs of ordinary home owners.

"I am now calling on him to look again at his decision.

"Also the decision to raise civil court fees should be immediately reversed.

"With the on-going global financial situation it's vital that access to justice is as wide as possible.

"I want to ensure that the number of repossessions in Scotland is as small as possible but the system is not helping people trying to hang onto their homes.

"I am today calling for an expansion of civil legal aid during this financial crisis and an increase in grant funding for voluntary sector advice agencies such as Citizen's Advice Scotland.

"I also think that Credit Unions should be encouraged to offer mortgages for suitable clients with an expansion of low cost secured lending and budgeting services for debtors facing homelessness.

"We need to do more to help people ride through the global financial crisis and Scotland can do its bit now without waiting for anyone else."


Published and promoted by Hugh Henry, on behalf of Cathy Jamieson. All care of 6 Parkinch, Erskine, PA8 7HZ.