§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Attorney-General what is his assessment of the scope which exists for reducing the amount of public expenditure devoted to the funding of law centres.
The Solicitor-GeneralThe Lord Chancellor has no general responsibility for public expenditure on Law centres. His Department provides financial assistance to the centres listed in the reply which I am giving today to my hon. Friend's other question. In the absence of alternative sources of income, any appreciable decrease in the amount of this assistance would inevitably result in a reduction in the level of service provided by these centres.
§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Attorney-General if any law centres have at any time breached the guidelines issued by the Lord Chancellor's Department; and, if so, what action was taken.
The Solicitor-GeneralNo departure from the guidelines by any of the seven law centres funded by the Lord Chancellor has been reported to his Department.
§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Attorney-General what is his assessment of the number of law centres whose existence depends on the financial assistance provided by the Lord Chancellor's Department; and if he will list them.
The Solicitor-GeneralThe Lord Chancellor's Department at present provides grants to seven law centres—Adamsdown (Cardiff), Cambridge House (Southwark), Harehills and Chapeltown (Leeds), Newham, North Kensington, Saltley (Birmingham), and Tower Hamlets. With the exception of the Harehills and Chapeltown centre, which is now partly funded under the urban programme, these centres depended on the Department's grants on average for about 70 per cent. of their income in 1980–81.