§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he will take to collect information centrally on assaults on social services staff in the course of their duties.
126W(2) what are the reasons for the decline in the total of grants made under section 64 procedure from £14,443, 694 in 1987–88 to £7,211,705 in 1988–89; and if there have been any changes in the criteria applied.
§ Mr. PortilloI refer the right hon. Member to my reply to him on 27 June at columns124–29. The figure of £7,211,705 refers to grants awarded as at 22 June 1988. The total amount available for the 1988–89 financial year is £14,243,000. There have been no changes in the criteria for awarding grants.
Funding applications are received and decisions on grants are made at varying times during the year. Full details of applications rejected for grant aid in 1988–89 will not therefore be available until after the end of the financial year.