§ Mr. Severasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will make an announcement about the future of his Department's grant assistance to the Citizens Advice Bureau Service after March 1979.
§ Mr. John FraserMy Department expects to provide a total of £1.26 million to the National Association of Citizen Advice Bureaux in the present financial year. We have decided to maintain our total grant assistance to the national association at no less than its present level until 31st March 1981 by extending our five-year development grant beyond its original expiry date of 31st March 1979. It is intended to give special attention to the needs of the citizens advice bureau service in Scotland.
The form of our support to the citizens advice bureau service beyond 31st March 1981 will be considered as part of a review of local advisory services which the Government intend to undertake. This will take particular account of recommendations which might be made by the Royal Commissions on legal services in England and Wales, and in Scotland. The reports by the National and Scottish Consumer Councils on local advice services, and proposals for the citizens advice bureau service's future development which are being formulated by the national association, will also make an important contribution to this review.