§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money was promised to the Association of Community Health Councils in England and Wales for 1983–84 and 1984–85; how much will be made available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeA Government grant of £15,000 was offered to the association in respect of 1983–84 and paid in April 1984. A further grant of up to £27,500 was offered to clear the association's projected deficit in 1984–5, subject to a number of conditions, one of which was that if the deficit in 1984–85 proved to be less than £27,500, only the actual amount would be met. The association confirmed their acceptance of the conditions in accepting the grant offer. Payments totalling £21,100, based on monthly statements of receipts and payments provided by the association, have been made.
Our policy continues to be that the association's main source of income should be subscriptions from individual community health councils for whose benefit the association exists and who are best placed to judge the value of the association's work. We have also made it quite clear that we expect the association to manage its financial affairs so as to operate within the income it attracts.