§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what programme his Department has for small grants to voluntary bodies working in the environmental field for the current financial year.
§ Mr. FreesonThe programme of grants is as follows. The figures are maximum amounts subject to the conditions of the grant being met.
£ British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (National Conservation Corps) 24,200 Community Service Volunteers (Environmental Programme) 6,800 National Trust (Acorn Camps) 6,800 Inter Action Trust (City Farms) 22,000 Civic Trust for the North-West 14,500 Civic Trust for the North-East 8,500 Yorkshire & Humberside Council for the Environment 5,000 National Council of Social Service (Environmental Liaison Officers) 16,000 Civic Trust (Practical Projects Programme) 10,200 Town and County Planning Association (Planning Aid Service) 3,750 Town and County Planning Association (Council for Urban Studies Centres) 2,500 Council for Environmental Education 5,700 Youth Environmental Action 850 Tree Council 6,750 National Gypsy Council 6,300 Association for Neighbourhood Councils 9,000 In addition to the above grant, the Tree Council has the services of an officer seconded from the Department to act as secretary, together with appropriate clerical support.
Voluntary bodies will also be among the recipients of grants for projects involving the conservation of ancient monuments, rescue excavations, and, on the advice of the Historic Buildings Council, for work in outstanding conservation areas and to outstanding 345W historic buildings. In addition the following bodies associated with the Department have powers to assist voluntary organisations: the Countryside Commission, the Development Commission, the Nature Conservancy Council and the Sports Council.