Nicola Smith

Citizens Advice, which provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to the public via 416 bureaux across England and Wales, is facing an 11% budget cut, as a result of funding reductions across BIS.

A recently submitted Early Day Motion sets out the problem. It states:

This House notes that the national Citizens Advice has been asked by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to make an 11 per cent cut in its 2010-11 budget; is concerned that cuts to advice databases and policy advice funded centrally will impact on the effectiveness of local citizens advice bureaux, and that this will undermine valuable advice services to local communities at a time of cuts to the public sector; and asks that consideration be given in any future cuts in grant to the voluntary sector of the impact on the ability of this sector to contribute to the Big Society.