The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke, QC MP
Secretary of State for Justice
Ministry of Justice
Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ

Date: 29th June 2011

Dear Ken,

Please find enclosed with this letter two petitions from Citizen's Advice Bureau volunteers in my constituency of Brighton, Pavilion. As you can see, these dedicated volunteers, who provide a vital service needed by many vulnerable people, fear for the future of the Brighton and Hove Citizens' Advice Bureau. I share their concern that, as a result of cuts to Legal Aid funding and the possible reductions in funding from the Local Authority caused by a reduced settlement from central government, the ongoing work of this and other bureaux may not be sustainable.

I am particularly concerned that, as a result of the Government's changes:
• there will be no funding for Welfare Benefits cases - resulting in the loss of support for approximately 740 Brighton and Hove residents each year
• funding for debt advice will be restricted to cases where the home is at risk and primarily delivered through a telephone service - resulting in the loss of support for approximately 690 Brighton and Hove residents each year there will be no funding for non asylum or detention related immigration cases - resulting in the loss of support for approximately 250 Brighton and Hove residents each year
• housing advice will be restricted to homelessness cases or cases where the home is at immediate risk - resulting in the loss of support for approximately 610 Brighton and Hove residents each year
• Private family law will be restricted to cases where domestic abuse is evident - resulting in the loss of support for approximately 1008 Brighton and Hove residents each year

Each one of these lost cases will have serious implications for the health and wellbeing of the individuals involved. These changes also make no financial sense. Indeed, by stopping debt, housing, and benefits problems from escalating, evidence shows that every £1 of legal aid expenditure saves money. When it comes to housing advice this saving is £2.34 for every £1 spent, on debt advice the state potentially saves £2.98 for every £1 spent, and £8.80 is saved for every £1 spent on benefits advice.

I therefore urge you to reconsider these unnecessary and unhelpful cuts to legal aid and look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion

CC: Eric Pickles - Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

To read the Ministry of Justice's response, click here