§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grants his Department has made to voluntary bodies for after-care hostels of all types in each of the last three years; what grant his Department expects to make for similar after-care hostels run by the voluntary sector in 1977–78; and if this expenditure is included within the VSU grants, or given directly to applicants.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe grants made in each of the past three financial years to voluntary organisations providing aftercare hostels of all types in which places are made available to ex-offenders were as follows:
£ 1974–75 419,620 1975–76 533,382 1976–77 1,004,109 Provision in Estimates for similar grants in 1977–78 is £1,152,500. This expenditure is not included within the VSU grants but is managed by the Home 518W Office probation and after-care department which deals directly with the applicants concerned.