§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what Government funding is currently available to Victim Support in Strathclyde; and whether he has any plans to increase funding.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer Tuesday 1 May 1990]: The Scottish Office has assisted the Scottish Association of Victim Support Schemes for the past five years through a grant under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Scottish Office funding for the victim support movement is in line with the Goverment's policy to improve services to victims of crime generally. Funding has risen from £600 in 1984–85 to £339,000 in 1990–91. In Strathclyde 10 co-ordinator posts in local schemes have been funded by this means.
Apart from a special grant of £13,000 in March 1989 to meet a specific financial difficulty, no central Government grant has been paid to the Strathclyde Association, a regional body representing local schemes in Strathclyde. Strathclyde regional council provides significant funding to the Strathclyde Association and actively supports the objectives of the Scottish association.