§ Mr. Raymond Ellisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to make available financial assistance to local authorities liable under section 292W 215 of the Local Government Act 1972 for the maintenance of a closed churchyard (a) in respect of maintenance and (b) in respect of the additional initial work required to bring the churchyard up to an adequate standard.
§ Mr. KingLocal authorities already receive financial assistance through the rate support grant towards such expenditure on closed churchyards; and grant-related expenditures of authorities concerned already allow for an equal amount per person to reflect the need for expenditure on cemeteries and crematoria. Applications from local authorities for derelict land grant could be considered where a derelict churchyard is to be put to a different use and where reclamation is required.