§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to increase funding of(a) the victims support scheme in general and (b) Lewisham victim support scheme.
§ Mr. MacleanAdditional funding for Victim Support was included in the public expenditure plans presented to Parliament by my right hon. and learned Friend the668W Chancellor of the Exchequer on 30 November. The Home Office grant to Victim Support in 1994–95 is being increased by 20 per cent. to just over £10 million. Two further annual increases of 8 per cent. are planned, taking projected funding for 1995–96 and 1996–97 to £10.8 million and £11.7 million respectively.
The allocation of the Home Office grant to local schemes and branches and the priorities which guide that allocation are matters for the Victim Support local funding panel, a sub-committee of Victim Support's national council.