Oral Answers to Questions — Cabinet Office – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 10 March 2010.
David Anderson
Labour, Blaydon
11:30,
10 March 2010
How many local organisations have received grassroots grants from her Department in the last 12 months.
Angela Smith
Minister of State (Third Sector), Cabinet Office, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Third Sector)
I can announce today that from September 2008 to December 2009, the grassroots grants programme has provided over 15,500 grants to small charities and voluntary organisations, totalling more than £38 million. These grants are given to small groups across England to do what they think best meets the needs of their local communities. In addition, more than £17.5 million has been received in donations from businesses and individuals. That has been boosted by the Government to more than £31 million to support local activity in years to come.
David Anderson
Labour, Blaydon
Will the Minister join me in praising the Birtley community partnership in my Constituency, and in particular the chairman, Mr. Ian Caddy, who was recently awarded the MBE by the Queen, for the work that they have done with the community assets programme to develop a community hub in our town from what was a derelict library?
Angela Smith
Minister of State (Third Sector), Cabinet Office, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Third Sector)
I can. The grassroots grants and community assets programmes are two of my favourite Government programmes for the sector, because they really involve the community in making a difference. My hon. Friend's constituent, whom he mentioned, really earned- [Interruption.]
John Bercow
Chair, Members Estimate Committee, Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Members Estimate Committee, Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
Order. I apologise for interrupting the Minister, but there are far too many private conversations taking place in the Chamber. I might just tell the House at this point that since last Wednesday I have received a large number of letters from members of the public, whose support we will all be seeking in a few weeks' time and to whose views we should attach importance. Those letters have complained bitterly about the excessive noise, barracking and yah-boo behaviour in this House- [ Interruption. ] Somebody said from a sedentary position "shocking". As far as the public are concerned, it is shocking. It is nothing of which to be proud, and we do not need to hear any more of it.
Angela Smith
Minister of State (Third Sector), Cabinet Office, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Third Sector)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I may write to you myself on that issue.
I wanted to say that my hon. Friend's constituent earned his MBE, and he should be very proud of that. I understand that his constituent is not very well at the moment, so I send him my personal best wishes and those of my colleagues for the work that he has done for the community.
Anne McIntosh
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
What proportion of those grants went to rural areas in that period?
Angela Smith
Minister of State (Third Sector), Cabinet Office, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Third Sector)
I can look in more detail at that, but the hon. Lady should know that the grants are issued throughout England and directly by community development foundations locally. If she is concerned that those who give out the grants in her area are not giving enough to rural areas, she should please let me know, because they should be fairly well spread across rural and urban areas and among young and older people. They are small grants of £250 to £5,000, and they are targeted at community groups. I am sure that her concerns can be assuaged if she looks at the issue and comes back to me.
John Bercow
Chair, Members Estimate Committee, Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Members Estimate Committee, Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
You have had a go. [ Interruption. ] No, I call Sandra Gidley. You can always try on a supplementary.
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Lindsay Hoyle
Labour, Chorley