Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many candidates have been supported through the EnAble Fund for Elected Office; how much of the £250,000 budget has been allocated; and what the average grant allocated is since the introduction of the scheme.

The EnAble Fund for Elected Office is a £250,000 interim fund and is available until March 2020 or until the £250,000 budget is exhausted. The Fund supported around 40 candidates at May’s local elections.

We have commissioned an independent evaluation, which will include assessments of average grants made and will be published after the Fund has closed next year.