§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what grants were made to the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux Information Service during each of the past four years; and if he will take necessary steps to ensure that further grants be given so that the National Association of Citizens Advice Bpreaux Information Services can continue to carry out its service to the public.
§ Mr. John FraserSpecific grants are not given separately to the Information Service of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. Total grants given to the association during the past four years were as follows:
1974–75 … … … £377,000 1975–76 … … … £766,000 1976–77 … … … £1,193,000 1977–78 … … … £1,424,000 My Department expects to provide a total of £1.26 million in the present financial year. We have assured the National Association that our grant aid to it will continue at no less than its present level until March 1981. This should enable it to assist a limited number of new projects, notably in Scotland.
We intend to undertake a review which would consider the funding and coverage of advice services. This will, among other things, provide a means of considering whether any changes are called for in present government policy towards the citizens advice bureaux service. The form of 440W our support to this service beyond March 1981 will depend very much upon the outcome of this review which will take particular account of the findings of the Royal Commissions on legal services in England and Wales and in Scotland. The National Association's own proposals for its development, and the reports by the national and Scottish consumer councils on local advice services will also provide important inputs to this review.