§ LORD BEAUMONT of WHITLEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will clarify the specific conditions which they intend to attach to capital and revenue grants to all voluntary bodies in receipt of urban aid funds; and whether they will consult with the bodies concerned beforehand.
THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS)My Lords, under the Local Government Grants (Social Need) Act 1969, grants under the Urban Programme are payable in the first instance to local authorities. Local authorities may apply for grant aid either on expenditure on their own schemes or on assistance which they give to voluntary schemes. In both cases the condition of grant aid is that the project concerned should be carried out as described in the original application. Guidance is given in the relevant Home Office circulars inviting local authorities to submit applications.
§ LORD BEAUMONT of WHITLEYMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. May I ask whether there are not many occasions when the situation is rather more complicated than that; for instance, where a voluntary body wants to help in obtaining a freehold and does not necessarily want any particular restrictions on how that freehold may be used for the good of the Urban Aid Programme in the future? Cannot occasions like this, and other cases more complicated than those which the noble Viscount seems to envisage, be dealt with rather more speedily as to consultation; 1184 or is the Minister satisfied that the present machinery is satisfactory for that?
VISCOUNT COLVILLE of CULROSSMy Lords, the details of that sort of case sound to me as though they could involve a substantial amount of consultation and discussion. I have no particulars of instances of that sort. I would think that the answer is, "No, they are not as simple as what I have just said, and they would need a good deal of resolution." If the noble Lord has particular problems and difficulties in mind, I hope that he will bring them to my attention.
§ LORD BEAUMONT of WHITLEYMy Lords, I thank the noble Viscount very much for that invitation, and I will do so. May I ask the Government whether they are aware that even in these most complex matters the work of voluntary agencies in the Urban Aid Programme responds very well and needs a great deal of speed in the way it is implemented? May I ask whether the Government will bear that point in mind?