§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes he has made to existing grant schemes to enable local groups to obtain funding for substantial repairs to village halls. [9282]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansIn order to fulfil the commitment given in the White Paper, "A Working Countryside for Wales", I have reconsidered the future of340W the £472,000 budget for the voluntary youth services, village halls and community centres scheme and have decided to pass the management of it to the Wales Council for Voluntary Action—WCVA. Most of the money will be used towards the match funding of a £5.6 million grant the WCVA has secured from the Millennium Commission for its project, 21st century halls for Wales. The project will fund improvements to or the rebuilding of around 50 community halls which will then stand as beacons of good practice. A small proportion will be reserved to provide an advice service for all village and community hall committees.