Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Herbert of South Downs and Rushanara Ali

Tuesday 8th November 2011 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Nick Herbert)]

Yes, we do. As we develop our proposals, including for the neighbourhood resolution panels that I described earlier, we want to consider what role magistrates may play in that. They are, as my right hon. and learned Friend said, an important lay resource, and we should think of new ways to make use of them.

[Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow) (Lab)]

T6. How does the Secretary of State plan to fill the nearly £280 million gap in social welfare law in respect of the provision of crucial advice and support on housing, debt and employment issues to some of the poorest people in our country, given that there is little to no evidence that the voluntary and charitable sectors will be able to back-fill that gap? The £20 million referred to does not seem to go far enough.