§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to require health authorities172W which make Section 64 grants to charities to include a term in their contracts requiring them to be notified of changes in the charities' objects. [104821]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 17 January 2000]: Health authorities have wide discretion over the terms and conditions they apply in the use by recipient voluntary organisations of Section 64 grants. This is appropriate given the wide variety of circumstances that may arise. In all their financial transactions, health authorities are required to exercise the standards of financial management and control specified in their standing orders and standing financial instructions—which follow the normal conventions for public bodies—and are audited on their performance. Making a specific requirement to be notified of changes in the objects of the organisation would not necessarily provide an additional safeguard, since changes may not necessarily have any bearing on the purpose for which the grant was made.