§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report those voluntary bodies and organisations assisted by his Department with grant-aid in the last financial year for which figures are available and the size of the grant so given.
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§ Mr. JoplingDetails of grants paid to voluntary bodies and organisations by my Department in 1984–85 are as follows:
£ National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs 16,000 National Proficiency Tests Council 85,600 Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group 1,500
§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the governmental agencies to which his Department gives grant-aid which in turn provide financial support for voluntary bodies and organisations and the size of the grant so given in the last financial year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. JoplingInformation is not maintained centrally as to whether any of my Department's numerous sponsored bodies provide secondary support of this kind, and it could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline the steps which his Department takes to ensure that grant-aid given to voluntary bodies and organisations, whether directly or indirectly, is not used for political purposes.
§ Mr. JoplingAll payments to sponsored and voluntary bodies are voted by Parliament through annual Estimates for purposes which further my Department's objectives. In addition to the close operational contacts maintained by my officials, formal controls are exercised over each body to ensure that such payments are used only for approved purposes. Where appropriate, such controls include cyclical reviews on lines prescribed centrally by Cabinet Office and Treasury.