‘Protect debt advice’ says Tim

South Lakeland MP, Tim Farron, spoke in parliament this morning to support the retention of funding for South Lakeland's hard presses Citizen Advice Bureaux (CAB).

In particular Tim used the Westminster Hall Debate to call for support through the CABs to provide debt advice and counselling for those in severe personal debt. He pressed for the extensions of the financial inclusion fund to enable the CABs in Kendal and Windermere to help those most in need. This action follows a meeting Tim held with local Citizens Advice Bureau representatives and with clients before Christmas where he agreed to back their claims and fight for them in Parliament.

Speaking after the debate Tim said: "Ensuring that the Citizens Advice Bureaux has the funding to enable them to provide debt advice is absolutely vital and an issue that is extremely important to local people in South Lakeland.

"The alternative, that we put this hugely important service into the hands of private debt advisers who have personal interests and do not offer free and independent debt advice to those who need it most, is one that is too big a risk. It is therefore crucial that the government looks to find a way to either extend or create a like for like replacement of the Financial Inclusion Fund which is due to close in March."