§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Attorney-General what criteria he adopts in deciding whether comunity law centres receive central Government funds; and if he will list the centres supported in this way.
§ Mr. Arthur DavidsonThe following table lists the agencies in England and Wales which are generally recognised as law centres and which receive central Government funds. My noble Friend gives direct grants to five law centres which provide legal services in deprived urban areas and which were in danger of closing down when previous funding agents withdrew support. The Secretary of State for the Environment grant aids those centres funded under the Urban Programme on the basis of applications forwarded to him by the local authority.
Community Law Centres Funded by the Lord Chancellor
- Adamstown Community Advice Centre Cambridge House and Talbot Advice Centre
- Newham Rights Centre
- North Kensington Law Centre
- Tower Hamlets Law Centre
Community Law Centres Funded under the Urban Programme
- Benwell Community Law Project
- Brent Law Centre
- Coventry Legal and Income Rights Service
- Garratt Lane Law Centre
- Handsworth Law Centre
- Manchester Law Centre
- Saltley Action Centre
- Southwark Law Project
- Small Heath Law Centre
- Tottenham Law Centre
- Vauxhall Law Centre
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Attorney-General what plans he has for making legal services more accessible to all by means of extending community law centres.
§ Mr. Arthur DavidsonIn his statement on 15th June 1976 in another place 439W my noble Friend recognised a need for more law centres, and for sufficient re. sources to contribute towards the cost of new ones. This remains his policy. The Royal Commission on Legal Services is at present examining the provision of legal services generally.