§ 31. Sir Geoffrey de Freitasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that the Northamptonshire Naturalists Trust and approximately 20 other county conservation trusts have prepared schemes to improve their capacity to serve nature conservation; and whether, after 1 April 1979, they will receive enough money from public funds to put these schemes into effect.
§ Mr. MarksWe understand from the Nature Conservancy Council—which keeps us fully informed—that it has so far approved grants of £5,000 per annum for three years to each of 17 trusts for nature conservation, but that decisions on further such grants have been deferred pending the outcome of discussions with the Minister of State on an application for additional funds for 1979–80.