§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review funding for the WRVS in the light of Government policy not to assist charities' core activities. [77925]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 22 March 1999]: There is no Government-wide policy not to fund charities' core activities. During 1999, the Home Office will lead the preparation of a code of good practice on funding, to underpin the recent Compact with the voluntary sector. The code will be a vehicle for developing a cross-departmental approach to strategic funding. In the case of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS), funding was formally reviewed in 1997. One of the review's conclusions was that, as a national exemplar for the involvement of volunteers, WRVS supported Home Office objectives and should continue to receive strategic funding.