Victory for campaign to save advice service from the axe
23.03.06

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has reversed its controversial decision to axe the Specialist Support Service, which is used by legal aid solicitors, law centres and advice bureaux in dealing with complex legal problems.

The decision follows the threat of a legal challenge, alongside a campaign by MPs and organisations that provide advice services which help some of the most vulnerable people in society, including the Child Poverty Action Group, Citizens Advice, Liberty, MIND, Shelter and the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants.

In January the LSC terminated its contracts with 19 expert agencies that provide specialist advice in complex areas of social welfare law such as welfare benefits, debt, housing and immigration to front-line advisers.

In a critical report, the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee found that the LSC ended the contracts, which had received very positive feedback, after a short consultation and with only six months notice. Evidence to the Committee revealed a flawed consultation process in which the option of closing down the service was not mentioned.

The LSC say they will be looking at the future of specialist support and may make changes in the future, but they have assured contract-holders that any changes will be subject to proper consultation.

Kate Green, Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said:

“This is a victory for all the organisations who provide expert advice and for the thousands of people, many of them in real need, who benefit from the service we all provide. I would like to thank the many MPs and the Constitutional Affairs select committee who made a critical difference by supporting our campaign.

“However, we will continue to argue strongly for the future of specialist support and the invaluable service it provides to many of the most vulnerable people in society. The LSC’s recent review found that it was working very well and I am confident that any future consultations will also show it to be a vital and cost-effective service that should remain part of the Community Legal Service.”

David Harker, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:

"The range of specialist support services are of tremendous value to the CAB network, and the decision to cease funding for them was seen as disastrous by many in our service. We are, therefore, pleased to see that the Legal Services Commission has accepted that there was not proper consultation around this decision, and will now be providing funding to all of the providers for the full contract term.

"But I hope that this decision to offer a lifeline runs deeper than that, and that the LSC now accepts the highly important role that the Specialist Support Service plays in providing quality advice to those in the greatest need."

Notes to Editors:

1. For further information please contact CPAG Press Officer Alex Belardinelli on 020 7812 5216, 07816 90930 or abelardinelli@cpag.org.uk or Dan Levene at Citizens Advice on 020 7833 7178.

2. The Constitutional Affairs Committee’s report can be read here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmconst/919/91902.htm

3. A full list of organisations funded by the LSC to provide Specialist Support Services and their areas of expertise is available here: http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/docs/cls_main/Specialist_Support_Advice_Lines.pdf

4. 166 MPs backed an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to “restore funding for specialist support and to strengthen the provision of legal advice for those in greatest need.” The EDM can be read here: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=29963&SESSION=875

For further information please contact:
Alex Belardinelli
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
abelardinelli@cpag.org.uk