§ 44. Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he is now giving to requests for increased funding from his Department for local victim support schemes.
§ Mr. MellorI generally refer to my right hon. Friend's decision to provide £136,000 during 1986–87 to assist local schemes in financial difficulties, and to the various other central Government programmes under which local victim support schemes may be able to obtain funding. In 1984–85, 66 schemes received grants amounting in total to some £580,000 from central Government sources, 189W including the urban programme administered by the Department of the Environment and Manpower Services Commission voluntary projects and community programmes. But I also point out that the Government should not be expected to undertake general responsibility for the running costs of the schemes which, as locally based voluntary groups, should be able to look to the communities which they serve as their main sources of funds.