§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will now consider making finance available to community health councils to compensate for the withdrawal of his Department's grant to the Association of Community Health Councils;
(2) what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the decision to withdraw his Department's funding to the Association of Community Health Councils on its long-term financial stability and the quality of service provided; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will now resume long-term funding to the Association of Community Health Councils.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI refer the hon. Member to my reply of 24 January to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) at columns557–8. In view of the efforts being made by the association to put its finances on a sounder footing, I made a payment last month of £15,000 to help meet its accumulated deficit. I have received within the last few days a report prepared by the association about its future funding and activities as a basis for decisions to be taken at its annual general meeting early 507W next month. I shall be meeting representatives of the association to discuss its financial difficulties and its proposals for resolving them.