§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Legal Aid Board has responded to the Lord Chancellor's request for advice on how best to achieve exclusive contracting of civil advice and assistance. [HL3462]
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)The Legal Aid Board has responded to my request for advice on how best to give effect to the Government's policy of exclusive contracting for civil advice and assistance. A copy of its report, and an exchange of correspondence between me and the chairman of the board, have been placed in the Library of both Houses. I welcome the report and generally accept the board's proposals. They will provide an effective way of achieving the Government's policy of targeting quality assured services on people's priority needs for help with basic legal problems. In particular, the proposals will secure our objective of channelling a greater share of funding to the not-for-profit advice sector, and of opening up new ways of delivering advice to people, for instance when they cannot conveniently reach the adviser's office. These are only first steps, but are essential components in building the community legal service promised by the Government in our election manifesto.