§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding is afforded to increasing youth club facilities and other projects aimed at getting children off the streets; and if he will make a statement on his policy on providing places for younger teenagers to go to socialise in the evenings. [1280971
§ Alan JohnsonLocal authority youth services receive funding through the Education Formula Spending (EFS). This fund has a value of £513 million in 2003–04 and is an increase of 5.9 per cent. over 2002–03 budgets. In addition to EFS funds, the Government has made £10 million available to local authority youth services in each of the three years 2003–06 through the Transforming Youth Work Development Fund (TYWDF). With this resource, we want to see Local Authorities making good quality youth work provision available to all young people in the 13–19 age range. Many schools and Local Education Authorities (LEAs) offer learning activities after school as part of their study support provision. Funding for study support of £75 million is available this year through Standards Fund grant 206. National Voluntary Youth Organisations (NVYOs) receive ['finding to promote personal and social education. The NVYO Grant Scheme is a three year cycle of funding. There are 88 NVYOs running 98 projects which receive grants in the current cycle (2002–05) within a total budget of £18 million (£6 million a year). The grants cover up to 50 per cent. of the cost of the projects.
Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) aims to provide developmental and diversionary activities for 8–19 year olds from 2003 to 2006. It is supported by Departments and Agencies across Government providing funding allocations into a single pot. The total funding available for 2003–04 is £25 million. Funding for years two and three will be confirmed within the next two months.