Earl Ferrersasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many Community Programme places have now been allocated to the Farm and Countryside Initiative and whether they will make a statement.
§ Lord Hesketh: I am delighted to inform the House that the Farm and Countryside Initiative has continued to make excellent progress since its launch on 3rd February 1986. Indeed, during the past few days not only has the milestone of 2,000 places been passed, but the latest total stands at 2,287 Community Programme places relating to 119 F&CI projects in England.
In rural areas, the value of F&CI in providing jobs for long term unemployed people and in affording opportunities for schemes to be undertaken which benefit the rural environment and rural communities is now widely recognised. I should like to pay particular tribute to those who have come forward with suggestions for F&CI projects and to offer my good wishes to all those engaged on such projects.