§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much notice the Open Spaces Society received of the reduction in its grant for 1993–94; what were the reasons for the reduction; and which of its activities will be reduced or abandoned.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Open Spaces Society was advised in January 1992 that future funding for its urban project should be found from outside Government sources and that 1992–93 was the last year of agreed funding for their rural work.
Given the large number of worthy voluntary groups eligible for support from the fund, it would not be right for any one group to expect full support for an unlimited period. However, the society's work in protecting common land and town and village greens is highly regarded by the Department and I have therefore decided that the society should receive some further support for another three years towards its work in this area. This will amount to £15,000 in 1993–94 reducing to around £10,000 in 1995–96, giving time for the society to seek alternative sources of funding after that.
The society received formal notice of this on 19 March.