§ Mr. BradshawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what percentage of schemes supported initially by section 180 and section 73 grants have continued to operate after the grants were tapered to 0 per cent. in each of the last five years. [64215]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe section 180 (formerly section 73) grant programme run by my Department provides grants to voluntary sector organisations concerned with homelessness. The grants are provided on a tapered basis, initially for up to three years to allow organisations to set up new projects to prevent and tackle single homelessness. All organisations are made aware of the tapered and time-limited nature of the grant when they apply, and are expected to have a fund-raising strategy in place to secure the continuation of the project. This approach allows more new projects around the country to benefit from grants than would otherwise be possible. The taper has been applied flexibly and many organisations have benefited from grant for periods well in excess of three years. This year 79 of the 205 projects in receipt of grant have been funded for between four and eight years. All aspects of project performance are considered when deciding whether funding should be offered beyond the usual three year period.
Detailed records are not kept on whether projects continue to operate when they are no longer in receipt of section 180 grant.