§ Mr. BurnettTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to improve support for the voluntary sector in rural areas. [R] [10713]
§ Alun MichaelLast year's Rural White Paper (Cm 4909), section 12.5, sets out work which is now in hand to strengthen the voluntary and community sector in rural areas. The impact of foot and mouth disease has revealed the pressing need to sustain the health of rural voluntary and community activity, and the creation of the new Department, with for the first time an explicit focus on rural affairs, has enabled us to enhance our capacity to work with the sector. I am holding a series of meetings with representatives of rural voluntary and community bodies and will consider what further measures may be needed.