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  • Cabinet Office Hosts Summit on Advice Cuts

Cabinet Office Hosts Summit on Advice Cuts

Delegates consider how to mitigate the effects of funding cuts on the advice sector

A special 'Chatham House' rules meeting was hosted by the Cabinet Office on 24 February. The Cabinet Office has been asked by No.10 to facilitate cross-Government work on mitigating the impact of funding cuts on the advice sector.

In a notice about the meeting, the Cabinet Office noted:

'Although the importance of the general advice sector is recognised across Departments, the multiple public funding streams they draw on make advice agencies particularly vulnerable to threats to their sustainability at a time of reductions in public spending.  In an effort to identify policy solutions to this problem, the Cabinet Office is coordinating a cross-government summit to develop a series of options to mitigate the impact of funding cuts on the advice sector. This process will be undertaken in collaboration with key representatives from the advice sector.'

The meeting, chaired by David Cutler from the Baring Foundation, aimed to:

1. Identify the priority areas of advice provision which require urgent action to mitigate the impact of funding cuts;

2. Agree a series of proposed responses for Government to address these priority areas, suitable for presentation to an inter-Ministerial group; and

3. Agree a series of proposed responses for the advice sector to take forward in order to mitigate the impact of spending cuts. 

AdviceUK's Chief Executive, Steve Johnson, was among speakers that addressed around 50 delegates including representatives of city law firms, not-for-profit advice agencies and networks, charitable foundations, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Communities and Local Government, Ministry of Justice and Cabinet Office.

Key points

The confidentiality of the meeting means that only key and non-attributable points can be reported.

It seems that there was some agreement that the summit marked the beginning of a process. This could involve a review, to be conducted rapidly this spring. It is hoped by AdviceUK that this will examine the savings that can be made by cutting preventable waste resulting from failure in Government administrative systems - the point we make strongly as part of our BOLD work.

The high level of need for legal advice was acknowledged, as was the need for a mix of funding and delivery channels. Face to face services must be preserved. Different channels, such as telephone advice will not help the most vulnerable.

A“polluter pays” principle for funding advice has been proposed by the Law Society. It was also noted at the summit that commissioning must be client focused and results in flexible services that meet community needs and tackle waste.

Investment in advice infrastructure is also needed.

We will be watching closely what happens as a result of this promising meeting and maintaining our involvement in the process.