§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider special funding of voluntary projects in country parish areas on the peripheries of metropolitan county areas, which are neither urban projects nor contained in the remit of the Rural Development Commission. Mr. John: The Voluntary Services Unit of the Home Office contributes to the costs of development officers in the 720W six metropolitan counties whose main function is the co-ordination of voluntary effort following local government reorganisation. Their services are available to voluntary organisations and projects throughout the counties, including the rural areas.
I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment that special projects in the rural fringes of metropolitan counties would not necessarily be precluded from Development Fund assistance and applications are considered, having regard to the availability of funds to the Development Commission and support for the projects from other public sources.