§ Mr. Porterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what grants he has made in the current year to voluntary bodies, charities and pressure groups.
§ Mr. NewtonOur policy to encourage voluntary bodies, including charities, to complement and supplement the services provided by social services departments, health authorities and the Department and wherever possible to foster a partnership between statutory and voluntary bodies, based on mutual consultation. As one element of this policy the Department makes grants to a large number of voluntary organisations through a variety of different schemes. We do not think it appropriate to fund activities whose primary purpose is to exert political pressure, but we would not of course seek to inhibit responsible bodies from expressing views on matters of policy or practice relevant to the interests of people with whom their work is concerned. For information about grants this year I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 14 December—[Vol. 50, c. 509–16.]