§ 28. Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he is taking to maintain the purchasing power of grants to voluntary organisations.
§ 36. Sir W. Elliottasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he is taking to maintain the level of grants to voluntary organisations.
§ Mr. EnnalsI am always prepared to look sympathetically at the financial position of voluntary organisations in receipt of grants from my Department under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 and try, as far as possible, to enable them to maintain their activities.
The amount available for grants under the 1965 Act this year is £5 million, an increase of about £2.25 million on the amount spent on such grants in 1976–77.
§ 29. Mr. MacKayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase grants to voluntary organisations operating on council estates in the outer ringway areas of large cities and towns.
§ 30. Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase grants to voluntary organisations operating on council estates in the outer ring-way areas of large cities and towns.
§ Mr. EnnalsI have powers under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 to give grants to voluntary organisations providing services in the health and social services fields. These grants are normally made towards the headquarters costs of national organisations or for innovatory projects of national interest.
402WLocal authorities have powers under Section 65 of the Act of 1968 to make grants to local voluntary bodies or to local schemes of national bodies. It would normally be for local authorities, therefore, to consider grant-aiding voluntary organisations operating on their council estates. I have reminded them of the valuable role of the voluntary sector in engaging the help of community resources and in complementing the statutory services and hope that they will continue to provide such assistance as their resources may allow and as may be appropriate to local priorities.