§ Jane GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department provides to Victim Support Berkshire; and if he will make a statement. [116336]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe Home Office grant to Victim Support increased from £12.7 million in 1997–98 to £29.3 million in 2002–03, and has been further increased in the current year to £30 million.
The allocation of the Home Office grant to local victim support schemes is the responsibility of the Victim Support Funding Panel, a sub-committee of the organisation's Board of Trustees. From October 2003, the allocation of funds will be based on a new funding formula which has been developed by the Victim Support National Office. This will enable funding allocations to be tied more closely to the workloads of local schemes.
Victim Support advise that the allocation of Home Office grant to Victim Support Berkshire in 2003–04 is likely to be in the order of 246,000.