To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what funding has been allocated to support black and minority ethnic social enterprise (a) to date in 2007-08 and (b) over the next three years. (191996)

20 per cent. (totalling around £600,000 over the three years to 2009-10), of the Office of the Third Sector's Strategic Partners programme funding for social enterprise partners is ring-fenced to ensure that those partners reach out effectively to black and minority ethnic communities to enable them to articulate their needs and issues.

The Office of the Third Sector will consult and involve partners in policy development, taking into account the evidence, advice and opinion they provide.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to establish a black and minority ethnic social enterprise network; and if he will make a statement. (191997)

As a strategic partner of the Office of the Third Sector’s, the Social Enterprise Coalition invests 25 per cent. of its strategic grant (£137,000 in 2007-08) in undertaking a lead role on behalf of the social enterprise movement, to develop a plan for engaging and integrating black and minority ethnic (BME) social enterprise into the wider movement.

The Coalition is currently engaged in the consultation phase of this work, taking views from a wide range of BME organisations and individuals. This includes developing options for ensuring that the voice of BME social enterprise is heard.

The outcome of this work will be available in the autumn.