§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the applications for grant aid received by the Nature Conservancy Council for the current financial year, under section 38 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which have either been turned down, or where the grant sought was not met in full by the Nature Conservancy Council.
§ Mrs. RumboldI am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that it is not their policy to publish details of grants refused. The other information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
To date 47 land purchase grants have been offered of which only one was at a lower rate than sought. Nine applications have been refused. 332 project grants have been offered, 82 have been rejected. A further 339 are currently the subject of consultation and determination.