§ Mr. BurnettTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial assistance she provides to support the Council for Voluntary Services. [R] [10712]
§ Alun Michael[holding answer 29 October 2001]: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs does not provide any direct financial assistance to Councils for Voluntary Service or Councils for Voluntary Action. Individual Councils would be eligible to apply for support from the Rural Support Initiative Fund. This Fund, which is part of the joint Government and voluntary sector Rural Stress Action Plan, has supported local initiatives to help people in distress particularly as a result of Foot and Mouth Disease in recent months. We do provide financial support to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (£90,000 for the 2001–02 financial year) and Rural Community Councils (£2.984 million plus staff costs for a Community Development Worker for the 2001–02 financial year) via the Countryside Agency. The Rural Community Councils work closely with Councils for Voluntary Service in their area and concentrate on activity in rural communities.