HC Deb 20 May 1991 vol 191 cc392-3W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the reasons for the reductions in the Braille grant last year to the Royal National Institute for the Blind; and when he expects to make a statement concerning the future level of grant.

Mr. Dorrell

We have funded the Royal National Institute for the Blind's braille service for many years. In the light of RNIB's comparatively strong financial position, the scope for it to generate alternative sources of income for the braille service and the very pressing demands on the limited available funds, we decided that we could no longer justify the generous level of grant which RNIB had previously received. Accordingly we advised it that its grant of £250,000 would be reduced by £50,000 in 1990–91 and that the situation would be reviewed in 1991–92. We have now awarded a grant of £200,000 a year for three years starting on 1 April 1991 and will review the situation again when the grant expires.

Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions have taken place between his department and office bearers of the Royal National Institute for the Blind in connection with the funding of Braille publications; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dorrell

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met representatives of the Royal National Institute for the Blind on 26 March following two earlier meetings with my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. As well as a very full discussion about the Braille grant we discussed other funding possibilities and have subsequently invited RNIB to submit a funding proposal for a community care project.