§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what part he intends the voluntary sector to play in the provision of community care for both mentally handicapped and elderly people; and how much money has been allocated to them for this purpose.
§ Mr. NewtonVoluntary organisations have an important role to play both in the direct provision of services and in the contribution they make to developing policies and planning future services. We shall continue to encourage and support them and to promote their partnership with the statutory sector. In 1986–87, DHSS financial support to the voluntary sector through the S64 general scheme of grants and a number of special initiatives exceeded £35 million. A substantial proportion of this money has been used to develop innovative projects which have extended the range of services to elderly and mentally handicapped people in the community as well as meeting the administrative costs of national voluntary organisations concerned with the interests of these groups.