HC Deb 24 July 1980 vol 989 cc366-7W
Mrs. René e Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will extend his financing of voluntary organisations to include projects for local schemes refused money by local authorities.

Sir George Young

In exceptional circumstances, my right hon. Friend already gives support to local voluntary organisations, for example, to help launch innovatory projects that have potential for wider application. But he does not propose to use his central grant-making powers to underwrite local organisations on a significant scale.

Mrs. René e Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money was allocated directly to voluntary organisations for national or experimental problems in 1979–80; how much was actually disbursed; and how this compares with the figures for each of the past five years.

Sir George Young

The totals of grants by the Department under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 which were allocated to voluntary organisations for national or experimental purposes were:

At constant outturn prices (£ million)
Estimate
1975–76 4.211
1976–77 4.333
1977–78 6.107
1978–79 6.212
1979–80 6.089
Outturn
1975–76 3.412
1976–77 3.794
1977–78 4.314
1978–79 5.200
1979–80 5.944