§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will mark next year's International Year of Volunteers by spending a day working as a volunteer. [137430]
§ Mr. StrawThe Government fully support the aims of the International Year of Volunteers. The Home Office is contributing £300,000 towards the costs of the International Year of Volunteers English Consortium to cover salaries and other core costs. We would also like to see all employers give their employees a day's paid time off to work in the community. The Home Office has a policy of allowing staff special leave each year to do voluntary work. I intend to spend a day volunteering during 2001.