Criminal Defence Service Bill [HL]

I am not so sure. Page 7 of the framework document states that the proposed allowances to be deducted from gross income will be £1,650, if the applicant has a partner with no independent means, £2,204 for each dependant and an allowance for housing costs, net of any housing benefit. That does not cover, for example, the situation of someone who has just started up a business, has borrowed a significant sum of money for that purpose and who must pay the interest on that loan. That is a simple example, but there would be a considerable number of similar cases whereby, if outgoings were not   discharged, the person might be forced into bankruptcy.