Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how funding announced in the Spring 2017 Budget to mark the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918 has been allocated.

In the Budget my Rt hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that £1.2 million of the centenary fund will go directly to seven Centenary Cities and towns in England with a strong suffrage history, to strengthen the reach and legacy of regional activity to inspire a new generation with this story.

A further £1.5 million will be available to organisations and communities through a grants scheme. The Government Equalities Office (GEO) have appointed a grant administrator to oversee the application and award process and I will write to all Members with details of the scheme including application criteria shortly.

The rest of the £5 million fund will be spent on a statue of Millicent Fawcett, to be erected in Parliament Square; on activities to increase young people’s engagement with democracy; and on activities to increase women’s engagement with political representation. GEO will announce further details in due course.