David Miliband and Paul Goggins exposed as hypocrites
Mark Harris | 11.05.2006 15:17
A damaging argument has erupted between two leading Government Ministers and a charity dedicated to promoting good practice in community research.
David Miliband MP and Paul Goggins MP both wrote effusive messages commending the “vital role” played by the charity, ARVAC, and congratulating them on the publication of its centenary edition of its quarterly bulletin. Only later did it emerge that the Home Office had chosen not to fund ARVAC under their new strategic grants programme thus terminating their core funding threatening their very existence.
Mr Miliband, who was made the Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in last week's reshuffle but was previously the Minister of Communities and Local Government, had written
"Congratulations on the 100th edition of the ARVAC Bulletin. A thriving voluntary and community sector is vital for a sustainable community and Arvac plays a key role in supporting and developing the work of the sector."
Paul Goggins, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for the Voluntary and Community Sector, Community Cohesion, Faith and Race Equality, said:
"The ARVAC Bulletin is thoroughly deserving of the high regard in which it is held by the sector, a feeling that is shared in the Home Office. I would like to send my fullest congratulations to Arvac for publishing the 100th edition of this informative bulletin."
The Director of ARVAC, Lesley Symes, said: "We are delighted that Mr Miliband and Mr Goggins have gone out of their way to acknowledge the crucial importance that research plays in the voluntary and community sector. However, we are slightly surprised that the 'high regard' with which Mr Goggins and Mr Miliband say we are regarded in the Home Office has not been translated into funding.”
The Bulletin can be ordered from
arvac@arvac.org.uk. Past articles can be viewed in full in the archive at www.arvac.org.uk.
ARVAC (the Association for Research in the Voluntary and Community Sector) is based in London and is a membership organisation that acts as a resource for people interested in research in or on community organisations.
David Miliband MP and Paul Goggins MP both wrote effusive messages commending the “vital role” played by the charity, ARVAC, and congratulating them on the publication of its centenary edition of its quarterly bulletin. Only later did it emerge that the Home Office had chosen not to fund ARVAC under their new strategic grants programme thus terminating their core funding threatening their very existence.
Mr Miliband, who was made the Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in last week's reshuffle but was previously the Minister of Communities and Local Government, had written
"Congratulations on the 100th edition of the ARVAC Bulletin. A thriving voluntary and community sector is vital for a sustainable community and Arvac plays a key role in supporting and developing the work of the sector."
Paul Goggins, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for the Voluntary and Community Sector, Community Cohesion, Faith and Race Equality, said:
"The ARVAC Bulletin is thoroughly deserving of the high regard in which it is held by the sector, a feeling that is shared in the Home Office. I would like to send my fullest congratulations to Arvac for publishing the 100th edition of this informative bulletin."
The Director of ARVAC, Lesley Symes, said: "We are delighted that Mr Miliband and Mr Goggins have gone out of their way to acknowledge the crucial importance that research plays in the voluntary and community sector. However, we are slightly surprised that the 'high regard' with which Mr Goggins and Mr Miliband say we are regarded in the Home Office has not been translated into funding.”
The Bulletin can be ordered from
arvac@arvac.org.uk. Past articles can be viewed in full in the archive at www.arvac.org.uk. ARVAC (the Association for Research in the Voluntary and Community Sector) is based in London and is a membership organisation that acts as a resource for people interested in research in or on community organisations.
Mark Harris