Legal aid reforms could close CABx

Citizens Advice Bureaux may be forced to close if plans to change the system of civil legal aid go ahead.
The Government’s proposals are intended to cut the legal aid bill by £350 million a year by 2015. Funding for a wide range of disputes – including some divorce, clinical negligence, and immigration where the person is not detained – would be axed.
Shadow Treasury minister, Chris Leslie, said organisations such as the CAB were in "jeopardy" of closing because they faced a cut in their legal aid funding. Legal aid makes up 65 per cent of the income of Bolton CAB, for example.
Announcing the reforms on 15th November, Justice Secretary, Kenneth Clarke said the Government would look at the problem of funding such advice agencies.
Under the proposals, legal aid funding would continue for asylum cases, mental health cases, debt and housing matters where someone's home is at immediate risk, and family law cases involving domestic violence, forced marriage or child abduction.
The plans are open for consultation until 14th February 2011.