§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated cost to public funds is of achieving the PSA target to make significant progress towards one million more people being actively involved in their communities by March 2004. [68795]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 11 July 2002]My right hon. Friend the Chancellor (Mr. Brown) announced in January 2001 that he was making available £300 million as part of a package which almost doubled the Government's commitment to encourage more people to get involved in their communities. This includes expenditure on a range of initiatives including
£60 million to be used to develop mentoring, and modernise infrastructure in voluntary and community organisations;£70 million for the Children's Fund, which was announced as part of the Spending Review 2000;£50 million for community groups in deprived areas; and£120 million to fund volunteering in public services and a new National Experience Corp for the over 50's to pass on their skills and experience to help others.