asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans the Lord Chancellor has to encourage innovation in community legal service partnership areas. [HL232]

In view of the success achieved in developing community legal service partnerships, I have decided to make additional funds available, within the Legal Services Commission's budget, to support innovative initiatives at local level. £15 million over the next three years will be earmarked for a partnership innovation budget. Grants from the budget will be available, on a joint funding basis, for projects which have the support of their local community legal service partnership. My department is today issuing a consultation paper which will enable us to take account of the views of funders and providers of local legal services in finalising the details of the budget.