Press Release

Today, Yasmin Qureshi, Member of Parliament for Bolton South East, pushed the Government and the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, to protect funding to the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) which supports the Bury and Bolton Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

The MaPS funds services such as the CAB, which in turn allows them to provide pension, debt and money advice to their customers, as well as other support where necessary.

This question comes in light of a recent meeting Ms Qureshi had alongside the CEO of CAB Bury and Bolton, Richard Wilkinson, to discuss the energy and cost of living crisis and the impact on their service levels.

As a result of the cost-of-living crisis, the service demand at Bury and Bolton Citizens Advice Bureau has doubled, at a time when their funding is at threat because of decisions taken in the Treasury.

Yasmin Qureshi, speaking after the question, said:

“The Treasury’s decision to cut funding to the Money and Pensions Service by 10% is incredibly concerning and has real impact for those on the ground in Bolton South East.”

“This cut in funding will significantly impact the Citizens Advice Bureau’s capacity at a time when their service demand is doubling in light of the energy and cost of living crisis. At such a crucial juncture the Chancellor should be offering an hand up, not removing support.”

Notes to editors

• About the MaPS: https://maps.org.uk/
• About the CAB Bury and Bolton branch: https://www.cabb.org.uk/
• Yasmin Qureshi MP question in full:

“Last week, I met with the Chief Executive of the Bury and Bolton Citizens Advice Bureau, which amongst things, provides debt and pension advice to so many across my constituency.

“The work they do is genuinely life-saving – they employ money advisors who support some of the most vulnerable

“But the Money and Pensions Service, the arm’s length body which funds the Citizens Advice Bureau, is set to lose 10% of its funding

“For my local branch, this equates to around 22 thousand pounds – the cost of one staff member, of which there are just five

“With their service demand doubling in light of the energy and cost of living crisis, how can the Chancellor push through these callous cuts to a scheme which supports some of the poorest in Bolton and Britain?”

• Tweet: https://twitter.com/YasminQureshiMP/status/1592493230452797442
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