PMQT Written Answers – 13 April 1994
Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 13th April 1994.
PRIME MINISTER:
Child Migrants
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Prime Minister if he will now meet representatives of the Child Migrant Trust to discuss the British child migrants scheme and Government policy towards former child migrants.
The Prime Minister : The Government’s policy towards former child migrants was debated in the Adjournment debate initiated by the hon. Member on 22 November 1993, Official Report, columns 301-8.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Prime Minister which Government Departments hold personal files relating to individual child migrants and their families.
The Prime Minister : The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis), gave details of the policy files held by the Department of Health and the Public Record Office in the Adjournment debate on 22 November 1993, Official Report, columns 305-6. No Government Department holds personal files relating to individual child migrants and their families.
Voluntary Bodies
Sir Jim Spicer : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total amount paid in grants by central Government Departments to voluntary bodies in the financial year 1992-93; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : Central Government funding of voluntary organisations in 1992-93 amounted to £3,925 million. Of this, £3,362 million was payments to housing associations and £563 million went directly to voluntary organisations to support the provision of services and a wide range of activities and projects. The latter figure shows that Government funding of the voluntary sector increased in cash terms by 15 per cent. and in real terms by 11 per cent. over the level of provision in 1991-92–£490 million. Between 1979-80 and 1992-93, the level of Government support for voluntary bodies has risen by 172 per cent. in real terms.
The amount spent under individual departmental programmes in 1992-93 was as follows :
|£
———————————————————————————————–
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |209,248
Defence |16,555,426
Education |7,337,719
Employment
Direct grants |35,452,818
Equal Opportunities Commission |22,000
Environment (including Energy Efficiency Office)
Direct grants |25,542,597
Urban programme |51,700,000
Housing corporations |2,862,000,000
Countryside Commission |1,242,000
English Nature |621,000
Rural Development Commission |4,595,000
Derelict land grant |317,000
Foreign and Commonwealth Office |2,697,820
Overseas Development Administration |147,426,026
Health
Direct grants |52,138,716
Health Education Authority |2,450,755
Home Office
Direct grants |50,596,492
Commission for Racial Equality |702,539
National Heritage
Direct grants |566,808
Sports Council |14,535,000
Northern Ireland Office
Direct grants |18,455,323
Housing associations and societies |57,404,589
Sports Council for Northern Ireland |658,037
Youth Council for Northern Ireland 1,357,803
Scottish Office
Direct grants |25,674,985
Urban programme |46,618,000
Housing associations |260,000,000
Scottish National Heritage |1,360,000
Highland and Islands Enterprise |1,000,000
Sports Council for Scotland |1,527,694
Social Security |14,094,810
Trade and Industry |13,303,996
Transport |509,615
Welsh Office
Direct grants |12,007,481
Urban programme |5,110,000
Joint finance |274,535
Development Board for Rural Wales |470,510
Housing for Wales (Tai Cymru) – grants to housing associations |182,323,223
Sports Council for Wales and Play Wales Management Committee
Grand Total |3,924,946,565
I am placing in the Library of the House a list of voluntary bodies funded by the Government in 1992-93, other than those funded under housing programmes and the urban programme or via non-departmental public bodies.
Ex-service Men
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Prime Minister what consultations he has had with ex-service men’s organisations regarding the proposed participation of former axis powers ex-service men’s representatives at the 1995 50th anniversary commemorations of the ending of world war II or Remembrance day parades; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 31 March 1994] : The commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the end of world war II will include a service in St. Paul’s cathedral, a parade in central London, a lunch or dinner for visiting Heads of State and a number of other events throughout the country. Peace and reconciliation will feature strongly in themes for these events.
The Ministry of Defence is leading the planning for the Government, but, at this early stage, no decision on the nature of the parade has been taken. The Ministry of Defence will consult a variety of appropriate organisations, including veterans’ associations in the United Kingdom, over the content of the commemorations before final decisions are taken.
There are, however, no plans for veterans’ representatives from former axis powers to take part.