Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Community Legal Service (Financial) Regulations 2000 which govern the financial aspects of the provision of services funded by the Legal Services Commission in civil and family matters.

Regulation 4 extends the category of persons to whom certain services are available without reference to their financial resources to include expectant parents in certain circumstances.

Regulations 5, 6, 10 and 11 increase the financial eligibility limits for monthly and disposable income.

Regulations 7 to 9 enable the assessing authority to carry out a further assessment where it appears that the client is no longer in receipt of one of the benefits specified in regulation 4(2) and(3) of the Community Legal Service (Financial) Regulations 2000, and require clients to provide necessary information to the assessing authority for the purpose of the further assessment.

Regulation 12 amends the method of calculating the statutory charge in exceptional family help cases.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been made for this instrument, as it has no significant impact on the costs of businesses, charities or voluntary bodies.