BARRING housing law from legal aid will lead to homelessness deny the poorest justice campaigners have warned.

The Law Society of Scotland has suggested elements of housing law could be removed from the category of cases that can be granted legal aid to make the overall system affordable.

The plan would see housing, debt, employment and personal injury cases removed from legal aid eligibility.

Shelter Scotland has warned it could end up costing the public purse more, dealing with homelessness and health and social care costs.

It wants to ensure there is adequate protection for all regardless of ability to pay for legal services.

Shelter is worried the changed cold mean all housing cases like people facing eviction from social or private landlords, people being repossessed for mortgage arrears, tenants fighting illegal eviction or taking their landlord to court for not fixing damp/dangerous conditions in their let would be denied legal aid.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: "We have grave concerns about the proposal to remove housing law from the scope of civil legal assistance. In Shelter Scotland's experience housing law impacts disproportionately on the most vulnerable in society and this proposal would remove protection currently offered to them.

"What's more, it is a false economy to assume a saving to the public purse in not providing Legal Aid to those experiencing housing issues. In fact any apparent savings would likely be outweighed by the costs of increased homelessness or the negative health implications of a lack of or poor housing on families and individuals."

The Law Society of Scotland said it was considering the issue in terms of what is affordable by the Scottish Government and maintaining access for those most in need.

It said one way of ensuring this could be to revisit the eligibility criteria and scope of legal aid.

A Law Society discussion paper states: "Our proposal to consider removing certain areas from the scope of legal assistance in Scotland is contingent on there being a properly funded and widely available advice network, separate to the

traditional network of firms of solicitors providing pro bono and legal

assistance work.

"We acknowledge that there are many qualified and experienced advisors working outwith the solicitor-client framework, and that, in many circumstances, these advisors will be able to provide the right support and advice to individuals without the need for a solicitor to be involved."