§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) why he has cut the grant to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations from £349,000 to £250,000; why only three weeks' notice was given; and why no prior consultation was held with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations;
(2) if he will reconsider the decision to reduce the grant to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations; what assessment he has made of the implications of the proposed cut in grant for redundancies and for the level of service provided by the voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement;
46Wawarded and the amount of money expended by the education authority for each of the last five most recent years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythDetails regarding the number of applications for clothing grants and the number of grants awarded under section 54 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 are not held centrally. Information on total expenditure is set out in the table:
(3) what action has been taken in the light of the review of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations carried out by John S. Gibson and presented to the Government in March 1987.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythAfter considering Mr. Gibson's report, together with a lengthy submission made by SCVO in response to my request for its views, I concluded that there was a strong case for providing additional funds for local councils of social service in rural areas. I also took the view that there was scope for a reduction in support for SCVO as a contribution to the additional funding for local initiatives. Accordingly, grant to local councils will be increased in total by £120,000 in 1988–89 and grant to SCVO will be reduced by £90,000. There is, of course, nothing to prevent local councils from purchasing services from SCVO. Additionally, I have authorised consultations with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on the possibility of further joint action by central and local government in the longer term to promote the development of local voluntary initiatives in both rural and urban areas.
Notwithstanding the reduction in grant, SCVO will receive substantial support from central Government funds in 1988–89 and I am confident that after re-assessing priorities it can continue to make a useful contribution to the promotion of voluntary sector interests. It is for the council to consider ways and means of assimilating the reduction in grant including the effect on staffing levels, but departmental officials are ready to offer advice and assistance. I wished to convey my decisions personally to SCVO and did so at the first opportunity in the course of a meeting with the vice-convenor and other representatives on 11 March.
My right hon. and learned Friend and I see no grounds for reconsidering these decisions.