§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to issue low interest loans to urban and rural community organisations, small businesses and individuals involved in community environmental action programmes.
§ Mr. MacleanThe new rural action scheme which we recently announced as part of our action for the countryside package will provide grants in support of a wide range of local environmental initiatives in England at parish level. This is in addition to £4.054 million awarded by the Department for environmental projects through the environmental grant fund and the special grants programme in 1992–1993. We have no plans for low interest loans for environmental programmes.