§ 3. Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the value of grants from his Department to voluntary organisations in each of the past three years at constant prices.
§ 15. Mr. Gwilym Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total of grants paid to voluntary bodies in Wales in 1978–79 and in the latest available financial year.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Ian Grist)Welsh Office grants for voluntary bodies 4 including those made under the urban programme and joint finance arrangements, totalled some £8.44 million for the 1986–87 financial year. The comparable figures for 1978–79, 1984–85 and 1985–86 are about £3.46 million, some £6.43 million and some £6.93 million respectively at constant prices.
§ Mr. KnoxI welcome the increase in the real value of those grants. Does my hon. Friend agree that that is a cost-effective form of expenditure and should be further increased?
§ Mr. GristThe expenditure certainly has been increased — it has increased by 143 per cent. since the Government came to power. It is certainly cost-effective. It answers the real human need of those who receive benefit from the voluntary organisations and those who contribute to their work and financing.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesDoes my hon. Friend agree that the work done by voluntary organisations such as the Urban Ministry is invaluable, that such work cannot be matched by official bodies and that it should be encouraged further as part of the inner cities initiative? By how much has the urban programme increased in grants to voluntary organisations? Will my hon. Friend continue to look sympathetically at all applications for carrying on the work of the Urban Ministry?
§ Mr. GristA large number of bids are in at the moment, which are being considered. All such bids are considered seriously. The urban programme support for the voluntary sector has increased from some £600,000 a year to £2.8 million a year since we came to office.
§ Mr. RogersThe Minister says that there has been an increase of 150 per cent. in grants to voluntary bodies and charities. Is it not true that more people in Wales need help from voluntary bodies and charities because the Government are not doing their job?
§ Mr. GristNot at all, because the Government's expenditure on social services, health, education and everything else has been rising faster than inflation and the growth of the economy.
Mr. ThomasWill the Minister look particularly at the applications from Welsh Women's Aid, in view of the essential service provided by that voluntary body in reducing the amount of violence against women and ensuring the welfare of children in Wales?
§ Mr. GristThe hon. Gentleman mentions a movement that I personally have always supported, and indeed, so have the Government. Since 1979–80 we have provided substantial programme support for the operational costs of women's refuges in Wales. In 1987–88 alone we are providing over £150,000 in support for that purpose. The running costs of Welsh Women's Aid are currently grant-aided separately by the Welsh Office. That grant has risen from £8,000 in 1978–79 to £70,000 in 1987–88.
§ Sir Raymond GowerIs not an additional factor the development of several new voluntary bodies of this character, which formerly were on a United Kingdom basis and now tend to be on a Welsh basis?
§ Mr. GristYes. That is occurring to some extent. Under certain programmes, such as the urban programme and some of our other funding, it is necessary for those bodies to have a Welsh basis in order to receive assistance through the Welsh Office.
§ Mr. MorganWill the Minister consider the effect on the voluntary sector in Wales of forthcoming changes in the community programme regulations which may make it much more difficult for the voluntary sector to maintain the level of activitiy, even with increased levels of direct grant? The community pogramme changes now being proposed will impoverish the voluntary sector by far more than the Government's direct urban aid support has enriched it.
§ Mr. GristI can best answer the hon. Gentleman by asking him to write and let me know precisely what he has in mind. I do not recognise any Government programmes that will damage the voluntary sector.