§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what amount in(a) percentage and (b) money terms of the New Opportunities Fund budget is currently spent on the purchase of brown-field sites for developing playing fields; [95199]
(2) what is the breakdown in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms of the moneys set aside by the new Opportunities Fund for the Green Spaces initiative. [95185]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 25 October 1999]: The New Opportunities Fund is currently consulting on the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities initiative, and has so far made no grants under it. The policy directions that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued to NOF require it to commit at least 75 per cent. of the £125 million available for the initiative to green spaces, and NOF will decide in the light of its consultation exercise whether or not further to allocate this sum between particular types of project.