§ Jane GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's support for volunteering. [138806]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Government value the contribution volunteers make to society, and is committed to making substantial progress towards 1 million more people actively involved in their communities by 2004. Current Government initiatives supporting volunteering include: the Active Community Unit's Black and Minority Ethnic Twinning Initiative; the Home Office Older Volunteers Initiative; the National Database of Volunteering Opportunities; the Active Community Demonstration Projects; Timebank; the Community Channel and Millennium Volunteers. The United Nations Year of the Volunteer in 2001 will also focus attention on the contribution made by volunteers to their communities.