§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What changes in entitlement to legal services for asylum seekers and others in England and Wales will occur when the funding of immigration advisory services is transferred to the Legal Services Commission in April 2004; and whether they intend to make any changes in the funding of these services in Scotland. [HL4043]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin)The Home Office currently provides funding for certain organisations to provide immigration and asylum advice under Section 110 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. On transfer to the Legal Services Commission, the services will be subject to the same scope and quality assurance requirements as the rest of the asylum services funded through the Community Legal Service. The Home Office will be responsible for negotiating future funding arrangements in Scotland with the Scottish Legal Aid Board, because the Community Legal Service fund only covers work undertaken in England and Wales.