We acknowledge the delayed release of the final report for the Early Legal Advice Pilot (ELAP) beyond the initially projected timeline.

The Ministry of Justice commissioned an independent research company to conduct the research and evaluation for ELAP. This process involved a feasibility study, which recommended a 'test pilot' to assess assumptions before proceeding to a full-scale pilot. During the test pilot, there was limited uptake of advice, and various methods were tried to enhance awareness and participation. Unfortunately, these attempts were unsuccessful, leading to the decision not to advance to the full trial after the completion of the test pilot phase. Subsequent evaluation work was carried out, and the draft reports have recently undergone independent external peer review.

We plan to publish all ELAP outputs in accordance with Government Social Research protocols in early 2024. These outputs will encompass the feasibility study report, a study exploring the potential for value for money modelling, and a final evaluation report.

From November 2022 to March 2023, approximately 27,000 invitations were sent to residents of Manchester and Middlesbrough who were identified as having early-stage housing-related debt, inviting them to participate in the Early Legal Advice Pilot (ELAP).

104 people completed the survey to apply to participate (which was necessary for data collection and protection purposes). According to Legal Aid Agency records in May 2023, three individuals from Middlesbrough requested and attended the free legal advice sessions under the pilot and there was no take-up in Manchester up to 31 March 2023. This highlights the challenges of engaging individuals dealing with early-stage housing, debt and social welfare issues.

It is important to note that this phase of the pilot was primarily designed to identify potential issues before considering a larger-scale rollout, rather than aiming to maximise the number of clients served. The evaluation has gathered valuable insights on the nature and implementation of such pilots as well as the barriers to engagement. The evaluation report is currently being finalised and is expected to be published by the end of summer 2023.