§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when her Department will establish rural targets and monitoring as part of overall rural proofing measures as set out in the Countryside Agency's report Rural Proofing in 2001–02. [54423]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Department is actively committed to improving policy outcomes through the rural proofing process. The Department's current public service agreement includes a number of targets which will bring 249W real benefits to rural areas, including ensuring all public libraries have internet access by the end of 2002 and introducing at least 12 Creative Partnerships by March 2004.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when her Department will introduce measures to raise rural awareness through staff(a) training, (b) development and (c) secondments as part of overall rural proofing measures as set out in the Countryside Agency's report, Rural Proofing in 2001–02. [54415]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Department has taken a number of steps to raise awareness of rural issues among staff and its non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). The rural proofing checklist has been widely disseminated throughout the Department and to NDPBs and rural proofing has been incorporated into the Department's policy makers' checklist. A central contact point to promote rural proofing has been identified within the Department and officials have worked closely with the Countryside Agency on a number of key policy areas.