§ 85. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet received the deputation of hon. Members concerning the level of annual grant to the National Marriage Guidance Council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe deputation, which I received on 28th May, made representations for a further increase in Exchequer grants to the National Marriage Guidance Council and other organisations in the marriage guidance field. I was glad to assure them that I was well aware of the valuable work done by these bodies and that, while there could be no question of increasing the provision made in this year's estimates, I hoped that it might be possible later to provide more generously.
The deputation also supported a recommendation of the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce that local authorities should be empowered to contribute to marriage guidance agencies without obtaining Ministerial approval on each occasion. This is being considered in connection with the review of controls exercised by the central government over local government which was announced in the recent White Paper on Local Government Finance.
In the meantime, I propose to address a circular to local authorities calling attention to the importance attached by the Royal Commission to marriage guidance work, and indicating that favourable consideration will be given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government to applications for consent to contribute towards the expenses of agencies affiliated to the National Marriage Guidance Council and the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council.