§ 42. Mr. Couchmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial provisions his Department will be making to assist the development of local victim support schemes; and what plans he has for assessing the performance of such schemes.
§ Mr. MellorWe plan to provide up to £2 million in 1987–88 to local victims support schemes, as part of a new programme of funding totalling £9 million over three years with the primary purpose of enabling local schemes to employ full-time co-ordinators. We shall also continue to provide a grant to the National Association of Victims Support Schemes which advises local schemes and helps to co-ordinate their development. Arrangements for administering the new funding for local schemes are being discussed with the national association, and will include measures to assess the effectiveness of this form of support in relation to the service provided by local schemes.