Law centres in the capital given a stay of execution

FUNDING FEARS: ALG to review policy favouring outer London

The four law centres earmarked for funding cuts last month have had a last-minute reprieve after the Association of London Government (ALG) deferred its decisions on funding until March.

The ALG had received recommendations that four law centres - North Kensington Law Centre, Central London Law Centre, Hammersmith and Fulham Law Centre and Paddington Law Centre - should not have their annual grants renewed on 1 April (see [2003] Gazette, 30 January, 3).

They were victims of an ALG policy objective to address the lack of access to legal and advice services in outer London.

However, following representations, the ALG has deferred all decisions relating to funding legal and advice projects until the end of March, after it has carried out a full consultation.

Councillor Raj Chandarana, chairman of the ALG grants committee, said he was committed to listening to all the issues raised by the 'very strong' responses, but warned that with requests for more than double the amount of money available, it was 'inevitable that we will have to make some tough choices'.

The ALG has 3 million to distribute; bids for 6 million were received.

Sean Canning, legal adviser at North Kensington Law Centre, said: 'By deferring the decision, the ALG is acknowledging that the principle of switching their resources to outer London advice centres needs to be looked at.'

He added that if the cuts went through, it was 'almost certain' that the centre would lose some of its existing staff in areas which do not qualify for legal aid.

It is thought that the other centres could be forced to close completely if their funding were cut.

Victoria MacCallum