§ 41. Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will increase the level of assistance to the British volunteer programme.
§ Mr. RaisonI propose, subject to parliamentary approval, to allocate £6.95 million to the British volunteer programme in 1985–86. This represents a 15 per cent. increase on this year's grant.
§ Mr. SoamesI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply and also for the extra money allocated to the programme. However, will he acknowledge that there are an immense number of young people in this country who would very much like to go abroad to do their bit to assist the disaster areas and other places in the developing world? Will he bear in mind that this is a most attractive and useful programme to which the Government could perhaps devote a little more money in future?
§ Mr. RaisonI agree with my hon. Friend about the value of voluntary work overseas. However, from 1979–80 to 1984–85 we have increased our spending on the British volunteer programme by 94 per cent. in real terms.
§ Mr. Simon HughesI, too, am grateful for this increased support for the British volunteer programme. May I suggest that, in this year of all years —International Youth Year—it would be a token of the Government's good will if they allowed the enormous numbers of young people who are unable to get work here but who have expressed a desire to help in areas such as Ethiopia and Sudan to do so through a special programme, with additional funding?
§ Mr. RaisonThe figures that I have announced show our commitment to the programme. The figure for the coming year will allow a small increase in overall numbers, although most of the extra money will help to meet increased costs overseas.