§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to make it illegal for local authorities to allocate to voluntary organisations funds made available by central Government under section 11 and the urban programme to community trusts.
§ Mr. TrippierMy Department's urban programme grants are used to reimburse local authorities for expenditure which they incur under the Local Government Grants (Social Need) Act 1969 and the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978. My Department approves projects for urban programme support only if they meet the ministerial guidelines for the urban programme issued in May 1985, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The administration of section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many community trusts are operating in the United Kingdom at present; what is their composition; what are their main functions; who is responsible for authorising their constitutions and operation; what annual report and accounts are community trusts required to publish; and where local authorities fund a community trust, what rights they have to recommend funding be granted or refused.
§ Mr. TrippierCommunity trusts are voluntary organisations about which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department can advise. A local authority has a wide range of powers which it can use to fund voluntary organisations.