§ 30. Mr. John Healey (Wentworth)How many contracts for the new Community Legal Service have been awarded in Rotherham to (a) solicitors' firms and (b) voluntary advice agencies. [104958]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Mr. David Lock)Sixteen contracts, which started on 1 January 2000, to do civil advice and assistance and representation in family and immigration cases have been let to solicitors working in the Rotherham area. A further 11 have been let to solicitors in the Dearne valley area. A contract has been let to Mexborough citizens advice bureau for a full-time debt case worker and support costs.
§ Mr. HealeyI thank my hon. Friend for that information, but is he aware that there is a lack of contracted provision in some legal categories? Can he explain what steps he taking to close that gap and confirm whether there is scope for fresh bids from other firms for that work?
§ Mr. LockI am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing the House's attention to that matter. There is a deficit in the Rotherham area of firms that are available to do social welfare law and there remains scope for additional contracts to be let to solicitors' firms there, although naturally—in accordance with the contracting scheme that the Government are operating—any firm would have to show competence to get a contract by passing the preliminary audit of the Legal Aid Board's franchise requirements.