Access Committee for England

HL Deb 31 March 1998 vol 588 cc33-4WA

Lord Swinfen

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Access Committee for England is about to be closed; and, if so, what support they can offer to prevent its loss. [HL1189]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

We understand that in a letter dated 16 March the Chairman of the Access Committee for England (ACE) informed the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers of ACE's closure on 31 March 1998. A recent inter-departmental review concluded that the Government should not continue funding ACE's central administrative costs from 1998–99. This is in accordance with a policy of time-limiting core grants, of which voluntary organisations have been made aware.