§ 28. Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what encouragement he is giving to voluntary assistance within the social services.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinVolunteers and the voluntary movement play a crucial and indispensable role in the social services. It has been estimated that the input to the social services from the voluntary sector exceeds that of the statutory agencies. I seek to encourage this in every way open to me, including maintaining the real value of the Department's financial contribution to the voluntary sector; urging local and health authorities at every opportunity to do likewise and to work in close partnership with voluntary and community groups; urging voluntary bodies in the social services to exploit fully the Budget measures designed to increase charities' donation incomes; and urging the community generally to increase the support—in both money and service—that it offers to the social services.