§ Sir Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now announce details of the support the Government are giving to the Zoological Society of London.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinThe Zoological Society of London is a learned society with an international reputation in the fields of conservation and scientific research. To further these aims the society maintains the Institute of Zoology and manages the animal collections at Regents Park and Whipsnade.
The Government support these objectives and have recognised that the society needs both short and long term assistance.
I propose to make a block revenue grant of £2 million a year, with an additional grant of £1 million in 1984–85 for the Society to pay off its overdraft. I shall make a capital grant of £1 million in 1985–86 and further capital grants thereafter of up to £¾ million a year to match £ for £ what the Society can raise from private sources. These figures are in cash terms and will not subsequently be adjusted for inflation. The grants will be subject to detailed conditions to be set out in a financial memorandum. The Government remain concerned that the society should use its full endeavours to contain costs and maximise income and has asked the Society to strengthen the marketing expertise available to it. The Institute of Zoology will be subject to an independent review. The Government will review the level and scope of its support after 3 years with particular regard to the progress the Society has made in implementing the Business Plan and to the extent to which they have been able to improve on the performance envisaged in it. The Government expects that there will be reductions after that in the annual call on the Exchequer.