§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money his Department has allocated to the National Gypsy Council in each year from 1979 to 1989.
§ Mr. KeyThe National Gypsy Council has received funding towards its administration costs from my Department's small grants and special grants programmes since 1978. The amounts of grant have been as follows:
£ 1978–79 6,300 1979–80 6,930 1980–81 7,600 1981–82 9,100 1982–83 12,000 1983–84 12,720 1984–85 13,300 1985–86 13,860 1986–87 14,300 1987–88 14,660 1988–89 14,953 1989–90 14,953 Grants under the special grants programme are given to assist voluntary organisations become established or to carry out specific projects. It is not the intention to provide permanent funding and grants are normally given for a maximum of three years. In the case of the National Gypsy Council, it was felt that their work was sufficiently valuable to warrant a longer period of support, but this is now being progressively withdrawn so that they have the stimulus to become more self-sufficient.