§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums each Scottish local authority (i) has budgeted to spend in 1997–98 and (ii) has spent in each of the five previous years in(a) grants to voluntary organisations and 702W (b) purchasing services from voluntary organisations in respect of (1) youth work, sport, adult education and community education, (2) social work, (3) Citizens Advice Bureaux and other advice giving services and (4) others. [19761]
§ Mr. GalbraithInformation is not held centrally in the form requested at present, although the collection of 703W statistics on local authority expenditure on the voluntary sector is being reviewed.
The funding of local voluntary organisations is a matter for local authorities. The Scottish Office has, however, issued guidance to local authorities requesting them to produce policy statements on working with and supporting the voluntary sector in their area. Scottish Office funding of £240,000 over three years has been granted to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to provide information and support to voluntary bodies building partnerships at local level. As a result, 22 new partnerships agreements are in place between local authorities and their local voluntary sector.
The Scottish Office has joined COSLA's Task Group on the voluntary sector to take forward good practice guidance on positive partnerships and funding.