Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the uptake of Housing Loss Prevention Advice Scheme contracts in Liverpool.

The Legal Aid Agency is closely monitoring the tender for the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS). On 6 February we launched a second tender opportunity for 12 areas where compliant bids for the HLPAS have not been received including Liverpool. The deadline for submissions for the tender is 12 pm on 1st March. The procurement timetable confirms that the outcome of the procurement process will be communicated to applicants in June. We will assess the results of this tender on 01 March and respond accordingly to ensure legal aid is available for those facing the loss of their home in Liverpool.

We continue to consider measures to support the sustainability of legal aid providers. The recently announced Review of Civil Legal Aid will explore options for improving the long-term sustainability of the civil legal aid system.