§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what were his Department's estimates for expenditure for the racial disadvantage budget for the years 1985–86 to 1988–89, respectively; and what grants have been given out of that budget to assist organisations or projects working to reduce racial disadvantage during each of the years since the grant was established;
(2)what steps he has taken to ensure that the grants available out of the racial disadvantage budgets are adequately publicised;
(3)what measures are taken to ensure the accountability to his Department in respect of grants under the racial disadvantage budget.
§ Mr. John PattenSupply estimate provision and grants given in each of the years since this subhead was established were as follows:
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£ 1985–86 Supply estimates provision1 250,000 Grants Deptford Enterprise Agency 40,000 North London Business Development Agency 40,000 Black Business in Birmingham 17,048 Business in the Community 5,000 Total 102,048 1986–87 Supply estimates provision1 260,000 Grants Deptford Enterprise Agency 50,000 North London Business Development Agency 50,000 Black Business in Birmingham 50,000 Bristol Black Business Association 20,000 Business in the Community 5,000 Total 175,000 1987–88 Supply estimates provision 1,170,000 Grants—Voluntary Services Unit National Federation of Self Help Organisations 30,000 Leicester Racial Awareness Consortium 29,338
£ Community Roots 28,065 Manchester Council for Voluntary Service 14,950 Urban Trust 13,533 National Council for Voluntary Organisations 9,500 Confederation of Indian Organisations 6,250 Other Grants Project Fullemploy 89,926 British Black Business Association 42,000 Black Business in Birmingham 37,500 Harlesden People's Community Council Bus Garage Project 26,748 Wandsworth Enterprise Agency 20,000 Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (UK) Ltd. 15,000 Tower Hamlets Association for Racial Equality 15,000 Tower Hamlets Enterprise Outreach Service 13,402 Deptford Enterprise Agency 10,000 North London Business Development Agency 10,000 Total 411,212 1 Ethnic minority business initiative only. In the first two years, grants were restricted to projects under the Home Office ethnic minority business initiative: since 1987 grants have also been made to voluntary organisations which work to relieve racial disadvantage and which fall within the normal grants criteria of the voluntary services unit and to other organisations, national or local, for strategic work in relation to racial disadvantage. Many proposals and projects take some time to develop to the point where grant can be given, and the portfolio of grants given under the subhead is building up slower than had originally been hoped.
The criteria for VSU grants are publicised through a leaflet which is made available to enquirers and are further described in handbooks on the availability of government grants. The ethnic minority business initiative, under which grants are also available, have been widely publicised. The availability of some grants for other strategic purposes has not been given general publicity but relevant Home Office contacts in other Government Departments (including city action teams and task forces), the Commission for Racial Equality, voluntary organisations and charitable trusts know of it and encourage relevant organisations known to them to apply.
Grants are given on formal conditions which include the timely provision of audited accounts and annual reports, and of copies of any publications, and which reserve the right of the Home Office and National Audit Office to examine books and records and of the Comptroller Auditor General to examine the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the use of the grant. According to circumstances, indicators of performance are also sought and monitored.