§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total grant in aid available from the Welsh Development Agency to projects in rural Wales in 1995–96 and the budget allocated for similar projects in 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [28949]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe Welsh Development Agency's programmes support economic development throughout the whole of the agency's area; with the exception of the specific rural development programme expenditure in rural and non-rural areas is not identified separately. The agency's specific rural development programme budget for 1995–96 was £6.8 million with a forecast outturn of £6.0 million; the budget for 1996–97 is £2.5 million but, in addition, there is significant 341W expenditure in rural areas through the main property and environmental capital programmes and support for the encouragement of businesses.