Women and children could die as a result of the Government's legal aid cuts, warns a former attorney general, who will today make a last-ditch attempt to overturn the changes in the House of Lords.

Baroness Patricia Scotland said restricting legal aid to victims of domestic violence who could provide evidence such as a criminal conviction against the perpetrator, a non-molestation order or an active child protection plan from the past 12 months would lead to a rise in deaths and assaults against women and children.

Medical evidence from a GP, A&E, counsellor or women's refugee would not be enough to qualify under the new proposals which are part of coalition plans to try and slash £350m from the legal aid bill.

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