§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Attorney-General when he last met the chair of the Legal Aid Board; and whether he discussed the franchising or contracting of legal services.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralMy right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has ministerial responsibility for legal aid. At his request, the legal aid board is currently considering the future arrangements for providing advice and assistance under the green form scheme. As part of that review, the board recently issued a consultation document which contains proposals for the future provision of advice through franchises involving solicitors' firms, law centres and, possibly, advice agencies. The board will be bringing forward recommendations to the Lord Chancellor once the review has been completed.