§ Q11. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Prime Minister if she willmake a statement on the Government's participation in the International Year of the Child.
§ The Prime MinisterDepartmental Ministers have already given the hon. Member details of their own Department's participation in the year. The previous Government took the decision—with which we agreed—that the main 303W national response should come from voluntary organisations concerned with children; and grants totalling £138,000, together with rent-free office accommodation, have been provided to enable the United Kingdom Association for the International Year of the Child to coordinate a national programme. The many hundreds of events organised up and down the country have, I believe, been outstandingly successful in focusing public attentionupon the needs and rights of children, and I welcome the opportunity of paying tribute to the achievements of the United Kingdom Association and all the organisations concerned. I understand the association is preparing a final report on the year, which we will study with interest when it is available.