HL Deb 08 October 2003 vol 653 cc55-6WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What support they have given in the financial year 2002–03 to each of the voluntary bodies dealing with rural stress; how much is budgeted for 2003–04; and how much is planned for 2004–05. [HL4394]

Lord Whitty

The Government allocated £300,000 to fund the Rural Stress Action Plan to relieve the incidence of stress in rural areas in 2002–03. A similar sum was allocated in 2003–04. Defra, working in partnership with voluntary organisations dealing with rural stress, in turn allocated the money to the following organisations:

Breakdown of moneys allocated from Defra to Rural Stress Action Plan 2002–03
Project Vol Org £k
Rural Support Initiative Fund Grant
Scheme (to help fund small projects
in rural areas) RSIN 100
Rural Demonstration Project RSIN 5
Partner Initiatives RABI 76
Samaritans 45
Tenant Support Initiative RSIN 5
Publicity RSIN 50
Training RSIN 10
RSIN Management RSIN 15
Total 306

Breakdown of moneys allocated from Defra to Rural Stress Action Plan 2003–04
Project Vol Org £k
Farming Help RSIN 35
Joint partner complimentary support RABI/FCN 90
(FCN) [60]
(RABI) [30]
Stress proofing and rural recovery
toolkits RSIN 37.3
Research to gather evidence RSIN 14.98
Understanding and relieving stress RSIN/CA (CA)
amongst Norfolk intensive arable providing
farmers co-funding 20
Rural Support Initiative Fund Grant
Scheme (to help fund small projects in
rural areas) RSIN 100
Farm Help publicity RSIN 35
Rural publicity RSIN 22
Total 319.28

Note:

Rural Stress Information Network (RSIN); Rural Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI); Farm Crisis Network (FCN); Countryside Agency (CA).

These figures are in addition to the £15 million we provided to the voluntary sector in England during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease to help relieve distress in rural areas. We are in the process of planning for 2004–05.