Mr. Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the funding of victim support schemes in North Wales. [40532]
§ Mr. MichaelHome Office grant to local victim support schemes and witness services is allocated by Victim Support's Local Funding Panel. The Panel is a sub-committee of Victim Support's National Council and is independent of local groups. It considers applications from local schemes and witness services in accordance with grant criteria, agreed annually between Victim Support and the Home Office.
In 1996–97 (the last year for which full figures are available), the Home Office provided a grant of £11.7 million to Victim Support. Some £10.4 million of this was channelled to local schemes and witness services via the Local Funding Panel. The North Wales Victim Support Scheme received a grant of £41,208.