§ LORD SANDYSasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can now announce new financial and administrative arrangements for voluntary youth service, community centre and village hall capital projects; and whether they will make a statement.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE (LORD BELSTEAD)Yes. After helpful consultation with the bodies concerned my right honourable friend has decided, with effect from April 1 next, to transfer responsibility for the administration of such local projects from the Department to individual local education authorities in England and Wales.
For the first two years, where a local authority is willing to make a grant to a voluntary project the Department will, subject to resources being made available by Parliament, make a grant of twice the authority's contribution but not exceeding 50 per cent. of the total cost of the project. My right honourable friend is planning that from April 1, 1974, the Government's contribution should equal that of the authority, up to one-third of a project's total cost, but she will not take a final decision until the future arrangements for local authority finance have been settled. Detailed administrative arrangements will be announced in a circular to be issued in the autumn.
The level of total Government grant in this sector will be maintained in real terms. Any savings resulting from the new arrangements will be channelled into developmental work and, via the Urban Programme or otherwise, into areas of high social need. Where local authorities are prepared to support urgent applications which have hitherto been held up, there is no reason why work should not proceed in anticipation of a grant under next year's arrangements.
House adjourned at eleven minutes before eight o'clock.