§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the details of the research contract made between his Department on the one hand and the Children and Youth Action Group—Make Children Happy—on the other;
(2) how many research contracts have been made by him for work with children; and when each was made;
(3) if he will publish in the Official Report the grants he gives to children's voluntary organisations;
(4) what was the date of the grant to the Children and Youth Action Group 511W (Make Children Happy); and how much it was;
(5) if he monitors or assesses research grants made to children's organisations.
§ Mr. ArmstrongA research contract was let to the Children and Youth Action Group on 20th January 1975. The cost ceiling is £70,000 over three and a half years, but payment is subject to detailed examination of individual items of expenditure and authorisation by my Department. The objective is to set up and operate an information service which will be used to evaluate and appraise the suitability of different types of play facilities. It is hoped to use this work as a first step towards future work on establishing standards for supervised play facilities. The contract is subject to the conditions on which the Department's research contracts are normally let. This is the only current contract specifically concerned with work on children's play.
My Department does not directly give grants to children's voluntary organisations.