asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a grant towards the cost of the citizens' rights office of the Child Poverty Action Group.

We welcome the assistance the citizens' rights office provides to welfare rights officers and others to help claimants of social security benefits receive the correct amount and type of benefit. I am pleased to announce that we will provide a grant of £15,000 a year this year and next. The CPAG has given an undertaking that the money will be used solely on the welfare rights advice and information services of the citizens' rights office, and will not be used to assist the Group in its campaigning activities as a pressure group.