§ Chris RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much social security funding was distributed to(a) local authority welfare rights units, (b) Citizens Advice Bureaux and (c) other voluntary or private agencies in each local authority in England in each of the last 10 years. [130415]
§ Malcolm WicksDirect funding of outside bodies by the Department for Work and Pensions is confined to a small number of grants, the details of which can be obtained from the Department's annual Accounts, copies of which are available in the Library. The grants enable the voluntary sector to work with the Department in: helping people with disabilities to live more independently in the community; providing mobility related assistance; and free help and advice to members of the public regarding their company, stakeholder or personal pension scheme.
However, the voluntary sector is a key partner of the Department's and a number of organisations receive funding under contract to the Department for the delivery of specific services. For example, assisting in the Department's efforts to help people back into work, particularly those facing the greatest disadvantages, by delivery of a range of employment and training programmes, including elements of the New Deal.