01/07/2011 – Lasa calls for government review of non-profit advice services after funding announcement
Lasa today (1 July) gives a cautious welcome to Justice Secretary Ken Clarke's announcement of up to £20 million this year to "improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the advice services available to the public".
Terry Stokes, Lasa's CEO, said: "Times are tough for advice services but especially for the thousands of clients that they help every year. Our benefits system is complex and people need properly funded legal advice to help them understand their rights and responsibilities. Any extra funding will help advice services weather stormy waters, but will not stop some ships sinking.
"Lasa has a long track record of working with frontline advice services to help them use information technology to deliver better services to more people. We call on the government to bring forward their plans for a review of funding for not-for-profit social welfare advice services. As demand for advice rises and funding is cut, we need sustainable and viable advice services.
"We look forward to hearing more about this extra funding, and hope that the wide-ranging strategic needs of independent advice organisations are properly met."
Lasa maintains our grave concern about the impact on vulnerable people of removing legal aid for all welfare benefits and employment cases. The pledge of £20 million does not match the £22 million spent on 113,000 welfare benefit advice matters in 2008/09, and the volume of enquiries increased by 20,000 in 2009/10, as documented by the Ministry of Justice Impact Assessment. With widespread welfare reforms taking place, the need for legal advice on welfare benefits has never been more necessary and vital.
Notes for editors
1) For media enquiries, please contact Paul Treloar on 0207 377 2748 or contact Liz Nightingale
2) The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offender Bill had its second reading in Parliament on 29 June 2011. Ken Clarke, Secretary of State for Justice, announced up to £20 million of additional funding to "improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the advice services available to the public", although no further details are currently available as to how this is to be distributed or spent.