§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Attorney-General what are the functions of community law centres.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe main function of community law centres is the provision of legal services to persons of modest means who might otherwise not obtain them.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Attorney-General if reports made by community law centres have to be lodged with his Department.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThere is no statutory requirement to report, but most law centres produce reports and provide copies for my noble Friend's Department. My noble Friend requires reports from those centres which are funded by him.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Attorney-General, how many community law centres have been set up in the United Kingdom to date; and where they are situated.
§ The Attorney-General20 law centres have been opened. Their locations ale shown below.
Law Centre and Situation
Adamsdown Community & Advice Centre—Cardiff
Balham Neighbourhood Law Centre—Wandsworth, London
Denwell Community Law Project—Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Brent Community Law Centre—Brent, London Camden Community Law Centre—Camden, London
Coventry Legal & Income Rights Service—Coventry
Hackney Law Centre—Hackney, London
Hillingdon Community Law Centre—Hillingdon, London
Holloway Neighbourhood Law Centre—Islington, London
Islington Community Law Centre—Islington, London
Lambeth Community Law Centre—Lambeth, London
Manchester Law Centre—Manchester
510WNewham Rights Centre—Newham, London
North Kensington Neighbourhood Law Centre—Kensington & Chelsea, London
Paddington Neighbourhood Advice Bureau & Law Centre—Westminster, London
Stepney Green Neighbourhood Law Centre—Tower Hamlets, London
Tottenham Neighbourhood Law Centre—Haringey, London
Vauxhall Law & Information Centre—Liverpool
West Hampstead Law Centre—Camden, London
West Stepney Neighbourhood Law Centre—Tower Hamlets, London
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Attorney-General if he is satisfied with the manner in which community law centres utilise the public funds which are made available to them.
§ The Attorney-GeneralCommunity law centres are voluntary organisations drawing their finance from various sources, including my noble Friend's Vote, the urban programme, local authorities and the voluntary sector. It is a matter for the funding agent in each case to satisfy itself as to the manner in which grants are used. My noble Friend is satisfied with the use which is made of public funds by those centres which receive grants from him.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Attorney-General what checks his Department makes on community law centres in receipt of public funds to ensure that they do not use these funds to engage in political activities.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIn those cases where a community law centre receives a grant from my noble Friend there is an annual inspection by his departmental audit staff to ascertain that the grant has been used for the purpose for which it was provided, namely, the provision of legal services.