§ Mr. Galleyasked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to reorganise the work of assessing the means of applicants for civil legal aid which is currently undertaken by the Department of Health and Social Security.
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Social Services and I have agreed that the responsibility for assessing the means of applicants for civil legal aid should for applicants in Scotland be transferred to the Scottish Home and Health Department. The transfer will take place on 1 April 1985.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has also decided that assessments for England and Wales would be more efficiently carried out in a central office rather than, as now, in 11 local offices. Accordingly, starting as soon as possible after April, this work will be transferred gradually to one office in Preston which will form part of the North Fylde central office complex of the Department of Health and Social Security.
In both cases staff not wishing to transfer will be offered posts in due course in other local offices of the DHSS within reasonable daily travelling distance.