Whether it will define the term "independent" in the context of its funding to local authorities for the provision of independent money adv…

We have made available, through local authorities, a total of £3 million annually for the provision of additional local money advice. The guidelines for implementation, issued to local authorities on 22 April 2002 state that: "Local authorities will be able to use the additional resources to enhance their own provision as well as independent sector advice services. In making a decision on how to use the resources allocated to them local authorities should consider whether there currently is a choice for the client in providers of money advice, and whether there are independent money advice services available in the area."In this context "independent money advice services" refers to money advice services not directly run by the local authority.