§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the availability of legal advice through contracts with the Legal Services Commission for(a) family matters and (b) asylum application appeals; and if he will make a statement. [140511]
§ Mr. LeslieThere are currently 3,592 solicitors' offices contracted by the Legal Services Commission to provide publicly-funded advice and representation in the family category of law in England and Wales. In addition, the Commission contracts with three Not for Profit agencies for the provision of advice in family matters.
There are currently 504 solicitors' offices and 90 Not for Profit agencies with contracts to provide immigration and asylum advice and representation in England and Wales.
Preliminary analysis by the Legal Services Commission suggests that the number of solicitor suppliers for the next contract bid round from April 2004 will be maintained across England and Wales in all categories, including family and immigration and asylum.