To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average time his Department takes to make a decision on grant funding; and if he will make a statement.

As the nature and complexity of applications for grants vary considerably, an average time could prove misleading. We have introduced arrangements for our section 64 general scheme which require applications from voluntary organisations to be submitted by October with the intention that most decisions will be announced before April. A few complex applications and those where additional information is required may take a little longer to process.