Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Hurd and Anne Marie Morris

Wednesday 2nd March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot) (Con)]

13. How many valid bids the transition fund received.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Nick Hurd)]

There were just over 1,700 applications to the transition fund, which are currently being assessed by our delivery partner the BIG Fund. The first transition fund awards, totalling £1.7 million, were made on 15 February to 18 organisations and there will be hundreds more awards over the coming months.

[Anne Marie Morris]

Given the appetite for the transition fund, will the Prime Minister consider a new fund to enable even more civic societies that undertake such valuable work, such as Home-Start in Teignbridge, to continue to operate? Will he consider including smaller organisations in such a new fund?

[Mr Hurd]

I understand the question, but unfortunately we have no money to consider such an initiative. We had to take some very tough decisions on eligibility criteria for the first round and we are actively looking at ways to top that up, but we have no current plans for a second round.