§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his assessment of the effect of the Opportunities for Volunteering Scheme on community care for the mentally ill, mentally handicapped and the elderly; which health authorities have used this scheme for community care; how many volunteers have been involved; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe opportunities for volunteering scheme is aimed at developing opportunities for unemployed people to undertake voluntary work and to expand voluntary work in the health and personal social services generally. Overall, the indications are that 40,000 or so unemployed people have participated in about 1,200 local projects of benefit to people who need support in the community. While of the 700 or so projects current at any one time, about 6 per cent. are specifically designed to help mentally ill people, 8 per cent. to help mentally handicapped people and 25 per cent. to help elderly people, other more general projects are also of benefit to 309W people in these groups. Grants under the scheme are not available to health or other statutory authorities; these have access to other sources of funds.