asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what financial assistance the Keep Britain Tidy Group receive from Her Majesty's Government for their anti-litter activities; and whether he is satisfied that it is sufficient to enable the Group to carry out an adequate campaign.

The Exchequer grant to the Group has been increased from £2,000 to £5,000 for this year in order to help it to expand its efforts. As a voluntary body, however, the Group also depends on support from other sources, and my right hon. Friend and I hope that this will increase too.

While being grateful for small mercies and small increases, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he would not agree that the cost of clearing litter is now a very large item in local government expenditure? Would he not, therefore, be justified in trying to persuade the Government as well as industry to contribute a great deal more generously than they have done in the past to the work of' the Group, which is proving successful in many directions, but which is crippled by lack of adequate finance?

Of course, I appreciate the importance of the work which the Group does, and by more than doubling the grant the Government have shown the way. I very much hope that industry, local authorities and private persons will follow.