HL Deb 26 November 1985 vol 468 cc887-8WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What financial conditions or constraints they impose on the Nature Conservancy Council with respect to the size of any grant that may be offered by the council to a private body or charity which wishes to purchase, for the purposes of creating a reserve, land notified as an SSSI; and when the conditions (if any) were last reviewed.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Elton)

The council is required to limit grants to a maximum of 75 per cent. of expenditure costs. In addition, the council is required to seek prior approval of the Secretary of State if the proposed purchase price exceeds either £100,000 or the district valuer's valuation. These arrangements are currently under review with the Treasury.