Lamb to press Minister over Children's Fund cutbacks

3.11.16pm GMT Tue 10th Feb 2004

In House of Commons Education Questions this Thursday (12 February), the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, Norman Lamb, will be challenging the Children's Minister Margaret Hodge over major cutbacks to the Government's funding allocation to the Children's Fund.

The Fund's Norfolk County Group was told in Autumn 2003 that they would have a £2.1 million budget for 2004-05, together with a ten per cent 'top-up' to compensate for having to allocate 25 per cent of this budget to crime reduction schemes.

Having planned its programme on this basis, the Group was then told that the 'top-up' money will not be forthcoming, and that the whole Children's Fund will be subject to a national 15 per cent funding cut.

"The Norfolk Group's plans have been thrown into chaos as a result of this news," said Norman Lamb.

"These cuts will have an impact on employment in schemes which depend on support from the Children's Fund, and on children who benefit from these activities. I will be raising the serious concerns of people in Children's Fund-backed schemes in Norfolk, asking whether the Minister can provide any reassurance to the groups affected, and criticising the late notice that was given. This is no way to treat local organisations."