Tories claim means-testing abolition will save 500mPUBLICLY FUNDED CASES: 'Unrealistic scheme,' says NapierIn one of the first shots fired in the run-up to the next election, the Conservative Party has announced plans to do away with means-testing for publicly funded cases in favour of a merit-based system.According to Shadow Attorney-General Edward Garnier QC, the shift would save the public more than 500 million a year by the party's third year in office.

The proposals would see the Community Legal Service, established last April, replaced by the Community Legal Aid Fund (CLAF).Clients seeking public funding would pay an initial application fee.

Mr Garnier said the fee - which has not been fixed, but would be in the region of 75 to 100 - would'dissuade frivolous applications'.Public funding would then be awarded to cases on the basis of merit.

If successful, claimants would repay a premium of around 10% of damages to the CLAF, although Mr Garnier said the amount had not yet been fixed.

The proposals relate only to claims for money, damages and property.

For the first time, under the plans, successful defendants would be able to recover their legal costs from the fund.Law Society President Michael Napier said it was 'unrealistic' to think that the Conservative Party scheme would result in significant savings when spending on damages claims was comparatively low.

Legal Action Group director Karen Mackay said that the effective privatisation of legal aid would leave the poorest and most vulnerable members of society would be left without the means of realising their rights.Sue Allen