Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the efficiency of the Groundwork Foundation in terms of the percentage of the grant-in-aid from his Department which is passed on to Groundwork trusts; and what alternative arrangements he has considered to ensure value for money.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Groundwork Foundation administers its grant-in-aid in accordance with the provisions of a grant memorandum, the terms of which are kept under review by my Department. All payments made by the foundation towards the approved running costs of Groundwork trusts are subject to the prior approval of the Department. The forecast funding requirement of existing and planned trusts is an element of the foundation's corporate strategy considered by the Department in the annual public expenditure round.
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Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effects of the funding arrangements of the Groundwork Foundation on existing environmental trusts.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Groundwork Foundation is funded to support and develop the Groundwork trust network. Groundwork trusts are formed and managed by local people. The trusts are encouraged to complement the work of existing environmental bodies and collaborate with them. The trusts stimulate increased expenditure on environmental improvements, from which the other bodies can benefit.
Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 28 January,Official Report, column 443, what consideration he has given to enabling existing environmental charities to bid for the grant-in-aid paid to the Groundwork Foundation.
§ Mr. AtkinsNone. Grant-in-aid is allocated to the Groundwork Foundation specifically for the purposes of developing, managing and supporting the network of Groundwork trusts.