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  • Independent advice will take the strain of cuts

Independent advice will take the strain of cuts

The government’s emergency budget will increase demand for independent advice as benefit cuts hit households on the lowest incomes. At the same time, public spending cuts threaten the funding of these essential services.

Phil Jew, Head of Policy & Campaigns said:

“We call on the government to preserve spending on independent advice, including civil legal aid and debt advice scheme funding in order to fulfil its promise to protect the most vulnerable. A proper advice and legal aid impact assessment should be conducted in relation to benefit changes and decisions regarding future government spending priorities. It is often independent, voluntary sector advice providers that have to pick up the pieces when public and welfare services are reduced.

We also urge local authorities to recognise the important contribution that advice services make to local social and economic well-being in the spending decisions they have to make this year.”

AdviceUK believes that independent advice can save £millions if it is designed and funded intelligently. It has called for new thinking about advice services, pointing out that independent advice services can also play a huge role in helping central and local government reduce cost and waste and improve public services. (Click here for more information)

For media enquiries contact:
Steve Johnson, Chief Executive AdviceUK: 020 7469 5700 / steve.johnson@adviceuk.org.uk
Phil Jew, Head of Policy & Campaigns, AdviceUK: 020 7469 5700 / phil.jew@adviceuk.org.uk