§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to ensure that New Opportunities Fund support for healthy living centres addresses issues of social exclusion in rural areas. [64472]
§ Mr. Banks[holding answer 17 December 1998]: The Policy Directions issued to the New Opportunities Fund make it clear that the primary aim of the healthy living centre initiative is that the centres should target people in communities with the worst health and greatest health inequalities, including those in pockets of deprivation within rural areas which may not be readily identifiable as deprived under the current criteria for determining deprivation. A particular emphasis is placed on ensuring that the centres are accessible to people who experience disadvantage, or who have difficulty accessing existing health facilities and services.
The National Lottery Act 1998 requires the New Opportunities Fund to draw up a strategic plan containing its assessment of needs and its priorities in dealing with them, on which it must consult the Secretary of State. This ensures that there is a proper strategy for distributing Lottery proceeds. The Fund is currently consulting on its draft strategic plan and looking at ways it will focus on the most disadvantaged 20 per cent. of the population. The Fund proposes to give particular priority to, among others, deprived rural areas.
In addition, the Fund may encourage applications of particular types, or in particular geographical areas, and use the new power of solicitation where sufficient applications are not forthcoming.
§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria are used to assess applications for funding of healthy living centres from the New Opportunities Fund. [64471]
§ Mr. Banks[holding answer 17 December 1998]: The New Opportunities Fund is currently consulting on its application guidance and developing its assessment criteria, but for healthy living centres the criteria will include consideration of the benefit to deprived communities and groups; additionality to mainstream health provision; innovation and quality of provision; community and user involvement; equality and access to the project; links with local health improvement 28W programmes and targets, and relevant national health strategies; links with broader local strategic planning and programmes (including community plans and regeneration programmes); and sustainability beyond the life of the grant.