HC Deb 29 January 1976 vol 904 cc285-6W
Mr. Carson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give a guarantee that there will be no financial cut-back on grants to community groups after the hand over of functions to local government.

Mr. Moyle

The cost of meeting existing recurrent grant commitments to community groups will be taken into account when grants to district councils for expenditure on community activities in 1976–77 are being determined. The Northern Ireland Department of Education has also advised district councils that community groups should be treated no less favourably than at present until the end of the financial year 1976–77.