§ Baroness Stedmanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they have announced a reduction in the grant to the Access Committee for England (ACE) which is intended "to cover the operational expenses, including the cost of prescribed staff, to enable ACE to fulfil the remit given to it by the Department of Health in 1993, such costs to be defrayed out of monies provided by Parliament under Section 64 of the Health Services Act 1968".
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)The Access Committee's core funding has been tapered in accordance with the Government's current policy on Section 64 grants. This seeks to support the general development of the voluntary sector by targeting resources on innovative project work and to support new applicants.