text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill - Clause 1 - Duty for Lord Chancellor to Consider Needs of Legal Aid Applicants
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  @ MP voted aye to give the Lord Chancellor a duty to exercise his powers in relation to Legal Aid with a view to securing that individuals have access to legal services that effectively meet their needs, subject to resources and the law. 
  @ MP voted no against giving the Lord Chancellor a duty to exercise his powers in relation to Legal Aid with a view to securing that individuals have access to legal services that effectively meet their needs, subject to resources and the law.
  
  
  The majority of MPs voted against giving the Lord Chancellor a duty to exercise his powers in relation to Legal Aid with a view to securing that individuals have access to legal services that effectively meet their needs, subject to resources and the law. 
  
  MPs were considering the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill[1]. The motion passed by the majority of MPs in this vote was:
  
  :That this House disagrees with Lords amendment 1B.
  
  Amendment 1B[2] stated:
  
  Page 1, line 5, leave out subsection (1) and insertâ
   	
  
  :â(1)    The Lord Chancellor shall exercise his powers under this Part with a view to securing that individuals have access to legal services that effectively meet their needs, subject to the resources which the Lord Chancellor decides, in his discretion, to make available, and subject to the provisions of this Part.â
  
  Had the motion not been passed this text would have replaced subsection 1(1) of the Bill which, unamended, stated:
  
  :The Lord Chancellor must secure that legal aid is made available in accordance with this Part.
  
  It was suggested during the debate that the rejected amendment introduced ambiguity as to in what circumstances, and for what purpose, there may be an eligibility for legal aid.
  
  ==
  
  
  * [1] [http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/legalaidsentencingandpunishmentofoffenders.html Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill]
  * [2] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2010-2012/0332/12332.1-6.html Amendment sheet containing amendment 1B]
  * [3] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2010-2012/0109/lbill_2010-20120109_en_2.htm#pt1-pb1-l1g1 Clause 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill as at the time of the vote]
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  