Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the article in the Guardian ‘Court support service under threat as Ministry of Justice pulls funding’, published on 19 June, and the comments of a Ministry of Justice spokesperson that “charities will soon be able to bid for new grant funding”, whether there will be a gap in the provision for Litigants in Person between the ceasing of funding for Support Through Court and whatever new provision they intend to make.

The Ministry of Justice recognises the pivotal role that organisations such as Support Through Court play in assisting litigants in person. The Ministry has agreed extensions to ensure continuity of funding, taking both the Litigants in Person Support Strategy and Legal Support for Litigants in Person grants to 30 September 2022. All organisations have been notified, including Support Through Court.

There will be new grant funding available soon for legal support for litigants in person throughout England and Wales. The details on the level of funding and how it will be administered are close to being finalised. There will be a competed process for determining which charities are awarded funding. I will write to the Noble Lord confirming the process shortly.