CAB UNDER THREAT: Are people aware Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) are under threat from market-led reforms?

It seems under reforms to the legal aid system, community-based CABs are being replaced with Government-backed Community Legal Advice Centres.

Under the scheme, existing not-for-profit advice services are being forced to compete for the same tenders as private companies.

The Legal Services Commission, which oversees the scheme, wants 20 centres in place throughout England and Wales by 2010. It is obvious what this is all about. By going private, local councils will no longer have to pay the CAB grant.

But private companies are in business to make profits, so they will certainly charge anyone who wants help.

Most people who use this service are low paid and will not be able to pay. I think this is a disgrace and it ought to be brought out in the open.

I understand the CAB's official line is that while specialised agencies should work together to provide better services, funding would have been better ploughed into improving the the CAB.

Without a high street presence, people would be less likely to seek advice and the question of the quality and the levels of advice is also suspect.

Tenders are often won on the cost per unit of advice, not whether the advice given is enough for someone's needs.

G D Birch, Address supplied