§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy towards the voluntary sector in the social services.
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§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe Government believe that local authorities should secure a mixture of social care provision by statutory, voluntary and private organisations, in order to increase the available range of options and to provide wider consumer choice.
Social services departments in Wales, as the lead agencies in social care planning, are expected to involve fully the voluntary sector as partners in the process. Specific grant schemes, unique to Wales, have been introduced to foster and develop the voluntary sector contribution.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he gives to county and district authorities to assist voluntary organisations.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesIt is for local authorities to decide which voluntary organisations they wish to assist and to what extent. It is not for central Government to tell authorities how they should manage their relationships with the voluntary sector, although my right hon. Friend and I do encourage close working relations between the two.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount of financial support he gives in(a)Clwyd and (b) Wales to voluntary organisations.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe latest figures available indicate that grants paid directly by the Welsh Office to voluntary organisations in Wales totalled £8.8 million in 1990–91. The figure excludes indirect grants paid to housing associations—£131.4 million—and those paid through intermediaries, for example, local or health authorities, under such schemes as the urban programme—£3.1 million.
Figures for Clwyd are not readily available.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he will take to encourage partnerships between voluntary organisations and local authorities in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesMy right hon. Friend and I will continue, through the various grant scheme mechanisms operated by the Department, to encourage local authorities to examine the scope for involving voluntary organisations widely in the planning and delivery of their services.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those voluntary organisations he has met in 1991 and 1992.
§ Mr. David HuntThe information requested is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amount of financial support given to voluntary organisations in each of(a) the counties and (b)the districts in Wales; and giving a per capita figure.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe information requested is not held by the Department. The hon. Gentleman would need to write to all voluntary organisations in Wales if he wishes to know the amount of financial support they receive and the geographical distribution of their expenditure.