§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which categories of persons or bodies received funding from his Department in respect of the inquiry into child abuse in Cleveland in 1987; what were the purposes for which funding was made available; what was the total amount of expenditure incurred by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Department gave funds of £300,000 each to the Cleveland county council and the Northern regional health authority in respect of the inquiry into child abuse in 1987. The payments were made in recognition of the exceptional length of the inquiry to assist the local authority and health authority with the costs which they incurred; the total expenditure incurred by the Department including these payments which can be separately identified was about £1.25 million.