I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 20 May 2009, Official Report, columns 1445-1446W. We have not reduced the family legal aid budget. The consultation document, ‘Family Legal Aid Funding from 2010’, published by my Department and the Legal Services Commission, set out proposals aimed at maintaining legal aid expenditure at 2007-08 levels. The LSC and MOJ have discussed these proposals with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Local Government Association. The LSC has also received responses from a number of councils, which are being considered along with all the other responses received. We do not believe that these proposals would have a material impact on local government expenditure, and a full impact assessment will be published alongside the final proposals.