| answer text |
<p>The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) keeps availability of legal aid providers under constant
review, and takes urgent action whenever it has concerns.</p><p> </p><p>The LAA has
recently tendered for new face-to-face housing contracts across the 134 housing and
debt procurement areas across England and Wales. Contracts commenced on 1 September
2018. As of 31 May 2019, there is at least one provider offering housing and debt
services in all but 4 procurement areas. Legal advice is still available in these
areas through the Civil Legal Advice telephone service, and the LAA is considering
how to secure provision in these areas and will set out next steps shortly.</p><p>
</p><p>In addition to the Civil Legal Advice telephone service offering legal services
in a range of issues to those who need it, we are investing £5m in innovative new
technologies to help people access legal support wherever they are in England and
Wales.</p>
|
 |
