HC Deb 19 November 1998 vol 319 cc880-1W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of Opportunities For Volunteering grants for 1999–2000. [60401]

Mr. Hutton

The Department's Opportunities for Volunteering Scheme is an important part of our overall support for volunteering in health and personal social services, and will remain so in 1999–2000. During 1999, we will consider the most effective way of developing the Department's strategy to promote volunteering. This will be done in consultation with the leading national voluntary organisations who are involved in the Opportunities for Volunteering Scheme. Pending the development of that strategy, we have ensured that grant commitments under the scheme for 1999–2000 will be fully met.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received in connection with Opportunities For Volunteering grants for 1999–2000. [60402]

Mr. Hutton

The Department has received 13 letters about the level of funding for the Opportunities for Volunteering Scheme in 1999–2000. In addition, Departmental officials have been in discussion about funding for 1999–2000 with representatives of the leading voluntary organisations involved in the scheme. I am to meet representatives of those organisations on 24 November to discuss the scheme in the wider context of developing the Department's overall strategy to promote volunteering.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organisations currently receive Opportunities For Volunteering grants; for how long each organisation has received a grant; and when is the planned end of each organisation's funding from such grants. [60403]

Mr. Hutton

Seventeen leading national voluntary organisations receive Opportunities for Volunteering grants directly from the Department. Currently they use that funding to support 526 local volunteering organisations and projects through grants for up to three years. 176 of those local grants are due to end in 1999–2000, and a further 121 in 2000–01.