§ Mr. Roweasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the response to the paper entitled "Strengthening the Local Voluntary Sector" on which his Department invited comments in June 1985.
§ Mr. HurdI am glad to say that the proposals in this consultation paper were generally welcomed.
In the light of this response, it has been decided to establish a development fund with the objective of strengthening the voluntary sector at a local level. The fund will enable grants to be made to help start or strengthen local "generalist" voluntary organisations whose function is to provide support and services to other voluntary bodies in their areas, to stimulate volunteering, help develop new voluntary projects and promote collaboration with statutory agencies. Typical recipients might be local councils for voluntary service or volunteer bureaux. The fund will have available the sum million for three years from April 1986 which will be provided 177W jointly by my Department, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Health and Social Security and the Department of Transport. It will be administered by a committee composed of representatives of national voluntary organisations, with an independent chairman. The committee will also have both central or local government participation. It will be serviced by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.