§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the buddying schemes for people with disabilities in England which are run by(a) community health trusts, (b) social services departments and (c) voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement. [128836]
§ Mr. HuttonThe information requested is not collected centrally. It is for health authority and local authority commissioners to decide whether to commission buddying services locally.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is available from his Department to finance buddying schemes for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [128835]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department provides grants to voluntary organisations through the scheme administered under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968. Some of these grants may, from time to time, be used to fund buddying schemes.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total funding available from(a) central Government and (b) voluntary organisations 148W for the running of buddying schemes for people with disabilities in England; and if he will make a statement. [128837]
§ Mr. HuttonNo Section 64 grants are currently provided specifically to fund buddying schemes. Information about funding from voluntary organisations is not available centrally.