Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, with particular regard to Circular No. 436 which he issued in May last year, what further action he proposes to improve youth service provision in Scotland over the next few years.
§ Mr. MaclayI have today issued a circular to education authorities setting out my proposals for giving further assistance to youth service. I hope that this circular will give additional impetus to the expansion and development of youth service provision urged in Circular No. 436 of 16th May, 1960. Copies of the new circular have been sent to national voluntary youth organisations.
The circular announces that grants for capital purposes will for the next three 31W years be available to local voluntary youth organisations instead of as hitherto only to the national headquarters of such bodies. Up to £50,000 will be provided annually for this purpose during the current year and the following two years. The grants will be offered towards the cost of capital projects promoted by local voluntary youth organisations and assisted by education authorities. The rate of grant will be up to 50 per cent. of the approved cost of particular projects subject to a maximum grant of £6,000 and on condition that the education authority concerned is also 32W willing to give a grant of at least one half of the amount of grant made available by my Department. A memorandum giving detailed information about conditions of grant and the procedure for applying will be issued shortly.
In this circular I have also announced increased grant-aid for headquarters of national youth organisations, made suggestions about a youth service building programme by education authorities and asked education authorities to inform me of the outcome of the review of youth service provision which Circular No. 436 requested them to undertake.