Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what 328W is his Department's programme of grants to voluntary bodies for environmental work in the current financial year, and the purposes for which these grants are made.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisIn recent years the Department has been exploring ways, through grants to voluntary organisations, (a) to encourage practical conservation work using young volunteers; and (b) to improve co-ordination between local amenity societies and their links with local authorities.
After considering applications I have decided on the following programme for 1974–75, subject to parliamentary approval of the expenditure. Most of the grants continue ones paid in 1973–74. The figures are maximum amounts, subject to the conditions of grant being met.
Practical conservation work Community Service Volunteers £4,530 British Trust for Conservation Volunteers £17,000 National Trust Acorn Camps £5,000 Trees for People £1,000 Co-ordination Civic Trust for the North-East £5,000 Civic Trust for the North-West £10,000 Yorkshire Council for the Environment £7,500 Environmental Liaison Officers (National Council of Social Service) £15,000 Tree Council £5,000 Council for Urban Studies Centres £5,000 £75,030 Similar work by rural community councils in rural areas is being financed from the Development Fund on the recommendation of the Development Commission. The Department also pays grants to local voluntary groups for conservation of ancient monuments and for rescue excavations. Other grants are paid to various bodies, including voluntary groups, for work in outstanding conservation areas or to outstanding historic buildings; these grants are awarded on the advice of the Historic Buildings Council.
In addition, the following bodies, funded or grant-aided by the Department, have powers among other things to assist-voluntary organisations, within the limits of their resources: Countryside Comission, European Architectural Heritage Year, Nature Conservancy Council, Sports Council.