HC Deb 22 July 1976 vol 915 cc1991-2
8. Mr. Arnold

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from voluntary organisations about their rôle in the structure of the urban aid programme.

Mr. John

Papers have been submitted recently by the Standing Conference of Councils for Voluntary Service and by the Greater Manchester Council for Voluntary Service.

Mr. Arnold

Is it not the case that, since local authorities must take a contribution of 25 per cent. if an application under the urban aid programme from a voluntary organisation is to be approved by the Department, a large number of problems, particularly in a period of financial stringency, immediately arise? Therefore, could a grant be made covering the sum applied for, which would not necessarily be the total cost of the project?

Mr. John

We do not believe that a change in the criteria would be desirable or would lead to greater take-up. A large number of applications for grants under the urban aid programme—about 20 per cent. of all approved expenditure—have been for projects run by voluntary organisations.

Mr. Loyden

The urban aid programme is unnecessarily confusing and complicated for the applicants. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is time he discussed with his right hon. Friend a means of overcoming this problem and making applications easier, so that resources are directed where they are most needed?

Mr. John

I am always willing to discuss ways in which the situation might be improved. But if it is unnecessarily complex to have a local authority set out its own priorities for its own area, I cannot agree with my hon. Friend. Local authorities can best settle the order of priorities in their own areas.