§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide more funds to voluntary organisations whose work contributes to combating social exclusion. [29070]
§ Mr. Macdonald[holding answer 12 February 1998]:The Scottish Office is already a major funder of voluntary organisations in Scotland, including those whose work contributes to combating social exclusion. Forty per cent. of the £1.4 million recently allocated to voluntary sector organisations for housing purposes will support work on homelessness. Voluntary sector organisations will also benefit from the £11 million allocated under the Rough Sleepers Initiative in September last year. At least 60 per cent. of the Urban Programme funding of £67.6 million in 1998–99 is expected to be allocated to voluntary organisations. Also in 1998–99, under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, grants totalling £6.9 million will be made to national voluntary organisations working in the field of social welfare to support their day to day work with children and families, people with disabilities or addictions, offender services and the homeless.
505WFurther decisions on expenditure to tackle social exclusion, including support for the voluntary sector, will be considered as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. This process will be informed by the consultation exercise on social exclusion in Scotland, which is currently under way.