CLOSURE OF BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

<p>That this House views with the gravest concern the proposed closure by Birmingham City Council of all five advice bureaux across the city; commends the independent service and open door advice which the Birmingham Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has provided since 1939 and which helped 56,000 people last year; believes the decision by Birmingham City Council to cut funding to be ill-conceived and detrimental to the interests of the wider community; and calls on the Government to intervene immediately to ring-fence CAB funding in Birmingham and across the country thereby ensuring the continued provision of a free and independent advice service to many of its most vulnerable citizens.</p>