§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what current financial assistance his Department makes for victim support schemes.
§ Mr. MellorIn the current financial year the Home Office has made a grant of £126,000 to the National Association of Victims Support Schemes (NAVSS). There is at present no provision for grants from the Home Office to local victims support schemes, although a number are receiving assistance from other Departments under a variety of general Government programmes. In the financial year 1986–87, however, the Home Office plans to provide, in addition to the annual grant to the NAVSS, £136,000 for local schemes which are experiencing particular financial difficulties. The money will be paid to NAVSS, which will be responsible for determining individual applications from local schemes, and will be additional to the grant which NAVSS will receive towards its own programme of work.