HC Deb 03 March 1995 vol 255 cc766-7W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what has been the total amount of funding from the Welsh Office towards the improvement of village halls in Wales in each of the last five years, including the current financial year; and what is the financial allocation for this purpose for 1995–96.

Mr. Richards

Improvements to village halls are funded under the voluntary youth services, village halls and community centres programme, and under the strategic development scheme (prior to 1994–95, the urban programme and the rural initiative).

Expenditure under the voluntary youth services, village halls and community centres programme is as follows:

£
1990–91 Outturn 528,000
1991–92 Outturn 724,000
1992–93 Outturn 551,000
1993–94 Outturn 399,000
1994–95 Estimated outturn 493,000
1995–96 Plans 472,000

Approvals under the strategic development scheme, and previously the urban programme and the rural initiative, are as follows:

Urbanprogramme£ Rural initiative£
1990–91 Approvals 225,225
1991–92 Approvals 400,500 154,500
1992–93 Approvals 1,518,432 185,000
1993–94 Approvals 1,293,529 343,344
Strategic development scheme
£
1994–95 Approvals to date 2,648,808
1995–96 Planned approvals 1,174,000

Figures are for approved capital projects only for each year. Projects funded include improvements to community centres, welfare halls and village halls.