§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Attorney-General what arrangements will be made for hon. Members and other interested persons to make representations about the scheme provided for in paragraph 4 of schedule 3 to the Administration of Justice Act 1985 and comments on it (a) while the preparation of that scheme is under consideration by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, (b) when a draft for that scheme has been prepared by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers but has not yet been submitted to the Lord Chancellor and (c) when the draft for that scheme has been submitted to the Lord Chancellor and is or is about to be under consideration by him.
§ The Attorney-General(a) None; (b) the Council for Licensed Conveyancers will send a draft of the scheme to 506W centre from which local authority funding is, I understand, being withdrawn); and I know of three others which are not members of the federation.
Seven law centres and the Law Centres Federation receive funds from the Lord Chancellor's Department. A further seven law centres received urban programme support during the last financial year.
The Government accept that law centres may, depending on local circumstances, have a part to play in the provision of legal services as a supplement to the legal aid and legal advice and assistance schemes. The establishment of and provision of support for law centres, are, however, seen as essentially matters for local decision and initiative.