§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with(a) DCMS and (b) lottery distributing bodies regarding the use of Lottery funds to support projects in rural areas. [40327]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 4 March 2002]: The Minister for Rural Affairs met with the Under-Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport on 20 February, during which this issue was discussed. He is also holding a series of round-table meetings with the Community Fund and other relevant bodies, to discuss how we can better focus lottery distribution on rural areas.
On 1 March the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced the Community Fund's launch of a £10 million initiative to help those rural areas that have received low funding by the lottery in the past.