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Big Frank joins law centre row
FRANK Dobson, the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, has waded into the row over potential cuts to legal advice centres.
Returning to action after recent health problems, the former secretary of state for health and former Camden councillor, said: “One of our proudest achievements was to set up the Camden Law Centre.”
The centre is under threat from planned budget cuts by the ruling Lib Dem/Tory alliance.
Mr Dobson added: “I have referred people with complex legal problems to the Law Centre – confident in the knowledge that the Law Centre will do a good job. And it’s very seldom that my constituents and I have been disappointed.” He also criticised the budget decision making process.
He said: “They never bothered to consider any evidence of the need for the Law Centre nor did they assess its effectiveness. Their decision was based on some scant information in the seventh appendix to a council document which didn’t set out the scale of the cuts or their likely results. “What a contrast with the care that went into setting up the Law Centre.”
Tory leader Andrew Marshall said: “Residents know the financial constraints we operate under, and we believe recognise the need for a funding approach that makes our money go as far as possible and encourages innovation in provision.”
He added: “We have been speaking to over 100 different organisations over these changes. I would be surprised if there are not some changes to the current proposals.” |
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