§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to make a grant towards the administrative expenses of Home Start Consultancy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieMinisters recognise the good work done by Home Start and other voluntary agencies in supporting families with difficulties, and are anxious to assist. The Department is increasing its grant towards the headquarters expenses of Home Start Consultancy to £45,000 per annum in 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91, an increase of 50 per cent, over its previous three-year grant of £30,000.
This year Home Start Consultancy has been added to the list of national organisations giving small grants to local groups for under-fives and their families under the Department's small grants scheme. A total of £30,000 has been allocated to Home Start, of which up to £2,850 may be used towards administration costs.
In addition, Home Start Consultancy received an allocation of £180,000 from the retail prices index error money which was announced by my hon. Friend in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 3 May at columns 422–24. Some of this money will be available to fund a new national inner cities officer post and to meet the related administrative expenditure.