To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to announce changes in legal aid for immigration work. [7538]

Sir Peter Middleton is reviewing all aspects of the provision of legal aid, including the procedures by which legal aid is granted. He will produce a preliminary report in September.

The Minister will be aware that legal aid costs are spiralling upwards all the time. Is he further aware that the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service is extremely cost-effective when providing legal help regarding immigration matters? Given that the service is cheaper and usually more efficient than solicitors, will the Minister ensure that the immigrants advisory service gets a fair shout when he considers legal aid for immigration cases? In that way, money could be saved and the public would probably be served better.

I have some sympathy with the hon. Gentleman's point of view. The Government believe that there should be sufficient publicly funded services to provide access to advice and assistance for asylum seekers and other immigrants who wish to remain in this country. In due course, the Government will make specific proposals on how that will be achieved.