§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the Government's policy towards the provision of a network of independent advice and law centres throughout the country; and what response he has made to the Advice 2000 initiative launched by the Advice Services Alliance.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Lord Chancellor's objectives for legal aid and the Legal Aid Board make it clear that he wishes to encourage law centres, citizens advice bureaux and others to take on an increasing proportion of work which it is appropriate for them to handle. The Legal Aid Board is currently undertaking two projects: the first is designed to ascertain whether methods of delivering legal services other than on a case-by-case basis would have benefits and the second to enable the board to set standards applicable to non-solicitor agencies. Information from these projects should assist consideration of how to achieve the above objective.