§ 15. Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what annual grants of taxpayers' money have been made to the Albany Trust and the Princedale Trust; and what are the total sums so far advanced to each of these bodies.
§ Mr. JohnThe total sums paid by the Voluntary Services Unit since 1974–75, when the grants began, are £43,625 to the Albany Trust and £86,000 to the Prince-dale Trust. A final instalment of £3,375 from the 1977–78 grant authorised for the Albany Trust remains to be paid. I will send the hon. Member the annual breakdown of these figures.
The Department of Education and Science provided a grant of £5,717 to the Albany Trust in 1976–77 and has so 901 far paid £2,174 in the current financial year.
Sir B. BrainIs the Minister aware that there is evidence—which I can supply to him if he has not seen it—that both these trusts have given encouragement and publicity to the Paedophile Information Exchange, an organisation which exists as openly dedicated to the sexual corruption of children? Before paying any balance of grants, or before renewing any such grants, will the Minister obtain assurances that public money is not being used to help a disgusting organisation which most people would regard as having criminal objectives?
§ Mr. JohnWhen I met a delegation led by the hon. Gentleman's hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Mrs. Knight), I did such research. I am satisfied that no public money is being used for any propaganda purposes on behalf of such an organisation as the hon. Gentleman mentions, but he and I can correspond if he thinks that evidence exists for his view. I am satisfied that it does not.