To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure that voluntary organisations providing services for publicly funded health bodies in Northern Ireland receive full recovery of costs. (130687)

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety recognises the vital role played by the voluntary and community sector in the delivery of health care services across Northern Ireland. The Government also acknowledge, as indicated in their response to “Investing Together”— “Positive Steps”—that voluntary organisations must be able to recover full overhead costs for delivering a contracted service. The Department is working in partnership with the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department for Social Development to develop this approach.