Written question asked by Eddie McGrady (Social Democratic & Labour Party) on Monday, 21 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 April 2005. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 April 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much has been spent in each of the last three years in Government grants to the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland.

Answer: Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent in each of the last three years in Government grants to the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland. [217673] Mr. Spellar: Information on grants to the voluntary and community sector by government departments across all regions of the UK is collated by the Research, Development and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office on an annual basis. In total £147,451,863 was provided during 2001-02. This information is reproduced and analysis provided in a published report, `Central Government Funding of Voluntary and Community Organisations 1982-83 to 2001-02', available from the Communications Development Unit of the Home Office. This includes details of grants made by Northern Ireland Departments. Details of grants made during 2002-03 will be published shortly and will show that a total of £167,947,995 was provided. Currently the exercise to capture information for the period 2003-04 is under way and final figures will be available later in the year. At the moment indications are that in excess of £183 million was provided to the voluntary and community sector.

Secondary information