§ 129. Mr. Collinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the continuance of the important work of the Marriage Guidance Council is endangered by lack of funds; and if he is now in a position to make a statement on the Denning Committee's recommendations.
§ Mr. EdeThis matter has been receiving my attention and I have been in consultation with the Marriage Guidance Council. Before deciding what sums the House could properly be asked to provide for assisting this form of social service during the next financial year, I have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to appoint a small Departmental Committee to consider on what lines this service, if assisted by Exchequer grants, could be most advantageously developed. In the meantime some immediate financial help is required to enable the work of the National Marriage Guidance Council and the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council to be continued during the present financial year, and I propose, by means of a supplementary estimate, to ask the House to authorise for this purpose grants of £1,200 and £300 respectively.