§ Andrew SelousTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment has been made by the Government of the administrative requirements on voluntary and community organisations applying to the Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chests. [29919]
§ Ms Keeble[holding answer 24 January 2002]: The Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chest will provide funding to stimulate and support community activity in deprived areas. The Community Chest programme is administered through local voluntary sector organisations who are best placed to ensure that local groups are not prevented from applying because of administrative constraints. The Government want to rationalise and simplify access to funding for community and voluntary groups and are undertaking a number of initiatives aimed at achieving this. Where appropriate we will revise the Community Chest to reflect the outcome of these initiatives.