HL Deb 05 March 1991 vol 526 cc1303-4

2.44 p.m.

Lord Renton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are aware that the London Boroughs Grants Committee has so far failed to decide upon its budget for the coming financial year, with the result that the Greater London Association of Disabled People has not been informed that it will receive any grants for that year.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Blatch)

My Lords, at the committee's request my right honourable friend the Secretary of State agreed to exercise his powers to set a maximum budget. He will consult all 33 London local authorities on a proposal to set a maximum budget of £30.155 million. A decision will be announced as soon as possible.

Lord Renton

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that eminently satisfactory reply. In declaring an interest as a patron of GLAD, may I remind her that for many years the organisation has done wonderful work for the disabled in Greater London? Without the financial support of the London boroughs GLAD's work would cease.

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, I welcome my noble friend's comments. I agree with all that he said in regard to the GLAD organisation.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the failure of the committee to come to a decision and set a budget is causing anxiety generally and not only in the case raised by the noble Lord? Can the Minister give an assurance that the committee is progressing and will shortly produce a budget so that people can be assured of their grants?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, the decision is for the committee. The Secretary of State made a recommendation and it is for the committee concerned to accept it. It became apparent that aspects of the grant scheme operate in an unsatisfactory way and more could be done to oversee the scheme and secure value for money. For that reason my right honourable friend decided to include the whole operation of the scheme within the review of local government.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, I am glad that the Secretary of State took that decision and therefore overruled the several Conservative-controlled London boroughs that created the crisis. Has the Minister seen the representations made today by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations in which it is said that the infrastructure for local voluntary action is being virtually dismantled? Organisations which took years to develop are being closed down in a matter of weeks. Is the noble Baroness aware of the serious position in which voluntary organisations find themselves, not just in London but throughout the country?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, I have not seen the specific report referred to by the noble Lord. However, I disagree that we have dismantled the voluntary sector in the London area. Each individual borough that must reach an agreement has its own view regarding whether agreement can be reached. The position is unsatisfactory. For that reason the whole working of the grant scheme should be brought within the local government review.