§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Legal Aid Board has responded to the Lord Chancellor's request for advice on how best to achieve exclusive contracting of civil advice and assistance; and if he will make a statement. [55673]
§ Mr. HoonThe Legal Aid Board have responded to the Lord Chancellor's request for advice on how best to give effect to the Government's policy of exclusive contracting for civil advice and assistance. A copy of their report, and an exchange of correspondence between the Lord Chancellor and the Chairman of the Board, have been placed in the Library of both Houses. The Lord Chancellor welcomes the report and generally accepts the Board's proposals. They will provide an effective way of achieving the Government's policy of targeting quality assured services on people's priority needs for help with basic legal problems. In particular, the proposals will secure our objective of channelling a greater share of funding to the not-for-profit advice sector, and of opening up new ways of delivering advice to people, for instance when they cannot conveniently reach the adviser's office. These are only first steps, but are essential components in building the community legal service promised by the Government in our election manifesto.