§ Lord GARDINERasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make a Statement on financial support for law centres.
§ The LORD CHANCELLORYour Lordships will recall that I announced on 30th July 1974 the Government's intention to provide additional funds of £50,000 to enable us to give limited financial assistance to those centres which could show that they would otherwise have to close down or curtail their operations. After a careful investigation of the need for assistance, financial support was made available to six centres. It was provided on the basis that it carried no commitment to the possibility of further finance in future.
772WAIn the present economic situation there can be no question of any additional expenditure, even for this purpose. I have, however, had a detailed review made of the financial commitments of my Department and I am pleased to say that this has made available funds of £100,000 which, subject to the necessary Parliamentary approval, I intend to allocate to law centres in the current year.
I must emphasise two points. The first is that this does not constitute any increase in my Department's total expenditure. The second is that there can be no commitment to further expenditure under this head beyond the financial year 1975–76.
House adjourned at twenty-six minutes before six o'clock.