§ Lord Trefgarneasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much grant was paid to the Airfields Environment Federation by the Department of the Environment in each of the last five years; and how much, if any, has been authorised for 1991–92 and subsequent years; and
What conditions were attached to the grants made to the Airfields Environment Federation by the Department of the Environment in recent years and what conditions have been attached to the grant authorised for the year 1991–92.
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment ('Baroness Blatch)The Department offered the Airfields Environment Federation a three-year grant from 1989–90 under the Special34WA Grants Programme. The federation received £21,936 in 1989–90 and £23,139 in 1990–91 and has been offered £24,528 in 1991–92. Any application from the federation for a further programme of work would be treated as a new application, rather than the continuation of the existing grant, and would have to compete for funding with all other new applications.
The funding is subject to the standard conditions which apply to all grants under the Special Grants Programme. These conditions are designed to ensure regularity and propriety in the use of public funds. The federation's grant is to be used solely for the purpose stated by the department, which is to assist the federation in its work of providing information and advice on the environmental aspects of aviation.