§ 35. Mr. Eric Martlew (Carlisle)What steps have been taken at a local level to distribute information on the community legal service in England and Wales. [118161]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Mr. David Lock)The Lord Chancellor, my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Jane Kennedy) and I have attended local launches and seminars across the country to promote the community legal service and we have issued two CLS newsletters. 823 After the local elections in May, cards giving information about the CLS will be delivered to every household in a partnership area in England and Wales. That will be supported by advertising campaigns in the local media.
§ Mr. MartlewI thank my hon. Friend for that reply, and I also thank him for recently visiting my constituency to talk and to see the actions of Cumbria county council. I understand that it was a very worthwhile visit, especially the video conference with the rural areas. Is my hon. Friend sure that his Department is making the best use of information technology to get the message of this new service across to the public?
§ Mr. LockI am very pleased that my hon. Friend asked that question. Since I went to Cumbria and saw the impressive work undertaken by the community legal service partnership there, including the innovative use of information technology, my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has also launched a community legal service, including the legal information advice website known as "Just Ask". This will provide valuable legal information and advice online to millions of people. I am pleased to be able to tell my hon. Friend that over 70,000 people have visited the website so far.