Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to provide additional funding from the public purse to law centres to help them respond to increases in the number of legal enquiries during the covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement.

We recognise the valuable role that Law Centres play in local communities across the country, and we support them in this vital work.

It is right that the Government does what it can to help vulnerable people and the charity sector on which they rely during this challenging time. That is why the Government recently announced that it is providing £360m of funding to charities, as well as an additional £370m fund for smaller organisations at the heart of local communities.

MoJ officials continue to meet regularly with representatives of law centres as well as the wider advice sector, to ensure that they are supported during this time and discuss ways in which we can work together to enhance the breadth of legal support available for everyone in society.