§ Mr. R. YOUNG asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it has been decided to make any grant from public 1683W funds to the Agricultural Organisation Society in respect of the current financial year; if so, what is the total amount of such grant; whether the Agricultural Organisation Society is, or will be, enabled to use the grant or any part of it for political purposes; what are the full conditions upon which public funds are paid over to this society; and what steps are taken to ascertain that the conditions are complied with?
§ Mr. BALDWIN: A grant of £28,000 will be made to the society from the Development Fund in aid of its general agricultural work in respect of the current financial year. The question of a grant towards the allotments work of the society is under consideration. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative. I am sending the hon. Member a statement of the conditions attached to the Development Fund grant made last year, which will be equally applicable to this year's grant. The necessary steps to ascertain that these conditions are observed are taken by the Development Commissioners and the Ministry of Agriculture.
§ The following is a copy of the statement mentioned:
§ "(a) That the advance now sanctioned be paid over to the Society at such times as may seem fit to the Board of Agriculture, provided that a final instalment of grant amounting to £2,000 be held back until such time as the Development Commissioners have been satisfied that the conditions have been duly observed.
§ (b) That the Board of Agriculture be represented upon the Executive Committee of the Society by two nominees. The Board will further appoint one of the officers of their Accounts Branch to act as audit officer, charged with the duty of securing that any payments made by the Society accord with the conditions laid down in (a), (e), (f) and (i), (j). He shall be instructed to report to the Board if he find these conditions are being disregarded.
§ (c) That no alteration shall be made in the constitution of the Society without the Board's approval.
§ (d) That no pecuniary aid whatever shall be given by the Agricultural Organisation Society to a co-operative society—not formed for purely propagandist purposes—whether or not affiliated.
§ (e) That the grants from the Development Fund shall be strictly confined to the purposes set out in the Act governing the application of the Fund, and that the Society shall furnish such certificates, vouchers and other documents or information as may be required to satisfy the Controller and 1684W Auditor-General, the Treasury or the Board on this or other similar points.
§ (f) That if either of the two appointments of Director-General and Director of Financial Services become vacant, the approval of the Board shall be obtained before any person is approached formally with a view to filling the vacant appointment.
§ (g) That the Society shall furnish any reports or information concerning their work, which the Board or the Development Commissioners may desire; and that the Board and the Development Commissioners shall have the right to make at any time such inquiry as they see fit into the conduct of the Society's affairs.
§ (h) That any increase in the scale of salaries or number of posts shall be subject to the prior approval of the Development Commissioners.
§ (i) That the Society shall continue to observe these conditions and shall undertake no new commitments until its Budget proposals for the year have been approved by the Development Commissioners."