HC Deb 17 May 2000 vol 350 cc144-5W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the number and value of(a) bids and (b) grants made in each of the last three financial years for which figures are available, for each (i) area-based and (ii) other regeneration-related initiative for which her Department is responsible. [119802]

Mr. Stringer

The Cabinet Office is responsible for the Better Government for Older People programme and the Drug Action Teams listed by DETR as under (ii) other regeneration-related initiatives.

For the Better Government for Older People (BGOP) programme it is not possible to distinguish between direct/indirect government grants, redirected existing LGA provision, local partner funding and other contributions without incurring disproportionate costs. The Cabinet Office provides a small grant each year to help support the central co-ordination of the BGOP pilots and this figure is included in the expenditure totals.

Better Government for Older People (BGOP)
1998–99 1999–2000 Total
Bids for pilot project 64 64
Accepted 28 28
All expenditure (£) 322,154 597,285 919,439

Notes:

1. The BGOP was launched in 1998–99 and ends in 2000–01. All pilots were approved in 1998–99.

2. The Local Government Authorities concerned, together with their local partner organisations, meet all the costs of their pilot projects.

The Home Office's Drugs Advisory Service award grants to the Drugs Action Teams (DATs) for development. These grants are awarded on the basis of population, not bids.

Drug Action Teams
1998–99 1999–2000 Total
Number of Durg Action Teams 98 106
Development Funding 'Grants' form Central Government 2,989,700 5,035,000 8,024,700

Notes:

1. Development Funding began in 1996–97. The expenditure is provided through the Drugs Advisory Service part of the Home Office. However details of expenditure for 1997–98 are not readily available.

2. In addition to grants the Drugs Action Teams (DATs) receive funding and resources from a variety of sources including local agencies.

3. There are 111 DATs to be funded in 2000–01.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list for each(a) area-based and (b) other regeneration-related initiative for which her Department is responsible (i) the amount budgeted and (ii) the total expended in each financial year for the planned lifetime of each initiative. [119794]

Mr. Stringer

The Cabinet Office is responsible for two of the programmes listed by DETR under 'other regeneration-related initiatives'—The Better Government for Older People and The Drug Action Teams. It is not possible to provide information as specifically requested. The Cabinet Office does not have accounting responsibility for the majority of expenditure made on these two initiatives.

The Better Government for Older People programme was launched in 1998 and runs until end of 2000. The pilot projects are fully paid for by Local Government Authorities and their partners. The Cabinet Office contributes a small grant toward the central co-ordination of the pilots. Total cost of the programme for each financial year is as follows: 1998–99 (£322,154), 1999–2000 (£597,285), and expected expenditure in 2000–01 (£500,000).

The Drugs Action Teams (DATs) receive funding and resources from a variety of sources, including local agencies and it is not possible to provide total expenditure figures that would be on a consistent basis. DATs receive 'development funding' from central Government, based on population data and paid through the Drugs Prevention Advisory Service at the Home Office. Information available for expenditure on development is for 1998–99 (£2,989,700) and 1999–2000 (£5,035,000). Expenditure forecasts for 2000–01 will be no lower than in 1999–2000. Resources for 2000–01 and beyond are subject to the Cross Cutting Review on Drugs as part of the 2000 Spending Review.