An MP has welcomed a concession from the Government on funding for Bradford’s advice centres.

David Ward (Lib Dem, Bradford East) had tabled an amendment on the reforms to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders’ Bill.

He was urging the Justice Secretary Ken Clarke to drop plans to restrict access to legal aid for vulnerable people facing welfare tribunals involving complex legal issues.

Mr Ward (pictured) had also backed successful calls to drop plans to restrict access to legal aid for victims of domestic violence as part of the reforms. Mr Ward said: “I am delighted that the Government has seen sense on these issues.

“The advice centres we have here in Bradford do fantastic work, helping people from all kinds of backgrounds to pick their way through complex systems. Legal aid is an absolutely essential part of their funding and I am very pleased that the Justice Minister has decided to maintain that for the most complex cases.

“Accepting a broader definition of domestic violence was also absolutely essential. The definition the Government were proposing was far too narrow and would have ruled out many extremely vulnerable abuse victims in desperate situations.

“I am confident that these changes will help to reduce current bill for legal aid, while also protecting advice for the most vulnerable.”

But the Government has set itself up for a showdown in the House of Lords after over-turning a number of other amendments from peers angry at its controversial justice reforms as part of the Legal Aid Bill.

Ministers refused to bow to pressure from the Lords, who demanded a series of concessions, including face-to-face interviews for all legal aid applicants and an assurance the victims of mesothelioma will not have to pay their fees from any compensation awarded.

But Mr Clarke has made a number of changes which will make it easier for the victims of domestic violence to claim financial support in family cases.

Under the Government’s original plans, only women who had pursued their domestic violence cases through the courts could rely on legal aid in the family courts.

Richard Hawkes, chief executive of disability charity Scope, said the Government’s recognition that legal aid advice was necessary for some welfare benefits cases was a step in the right direction but said that they are still concerned that thousands of disabled people will not get the advice they need.

He said: “As the Government hasn’t provided clarity on how its proposals will work in practice, we urge peers in the House of Lords to continue to keep the pressure on Government.”