§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to announce the Government's considered views on voluntary organisations, in reply to the Wolfenden report and the consultation document "The Government and the Voluntary Sector".
§ Mr. RaisonI have been asked to reply.
An analysis of the responses to the consultative document will be published early in the new year.
The Wolfenden report and the responses to the consultative document do not lend themselves to the formulation of a single definitive policy statement, but Ministers have made clear on many occasions their policy of support for the voluntary sector.
On 9 May my right hon. Friend announced three initiatives to be taken by the Voluntary Services Unit, for the development of local voluntary action, the initiation of low cost local collaborative schemes and the organisation of local charity reviews. The Wolfenden
652Wreport and the responses to the consultative document have helped shaped the first of these schemes, on which progress is being made.