§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional money for the redevelopment of rural towns he expects to provide following the publication of the Rural White Paper; and if he will make a statement. [147586]
§ Mr. MeacherWe will be increasing funding by £37 million over three years to create a £100 million regeneration programme with partnership funds for 100 towns in or near the most deprived rural areas. The £37 million is pump-priming money which will help towns themselves start the process of regeneration and fund some new projects.