§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by her Department and agencies on social exclusion projects in(a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c)2002–03 to date; and if she will break down the spending by (i) category and (ii) region in each year. [81143]
§ Alun MichaelThis Department is not directly responsible for spending on social exclusion. However, various programmes administered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies make a significant contribution.
The Market Town Initiative is being taken forward on Defra's behalf by the regional development agencies, working with the Countryside Agency and local partners, and using £37 million of Government funding announced in the Rural White Paper in November 2000 plus such match funding as can be secured from other public and private sources. Expenditure on the initiative in 2001–02 is estimated at some £2.9 million by the regional development agencies and some £2.5 million by the Countryside Agency. Information for the current financial year is not yet available but as most towns have now completed their action plans this should result in a substantial increase in project expenditure by rural development agencies and other partners.
56Wthe final destination given on the route plan for each of the consignments. [80404]
§ Mr. MorleyThe information requested is as follows:
The following table shows amounts (in £) spent on vital villages projects which address social exclusion. The Countryside Agency does not have a "social exclusion" label for its projects. The table picks up projects which target groups which can be social excluded (youth, unemployed, ethnic minorities, elderly).
57W
£ Location 2000–01 2001–02 12002–03 Parish transport grunt North east 0 12,044.21 13,552.50 North west 0 7,882.50 7,687.50 Yorkshire and Humber 0 8,447.50 40,125.00 East Midlands 0 10,048.55 12,128.22 West Midlands 0 34,359.89 27,234.06 East of England 0 15,172.81 72,295.00 South east 0 16,722.13 5,172.50 South west 0 10,384.78 59,009.28 Unknown 0 0 0 Total 0 115,062.40 237,204.10 Parish plans grant North east 0 18,359.55 17,144.75 North west 0 35,056.92 40,268.72 Yorkshire and Humber 0 41,709.05 10,428.00 East Midlands 0 15,154.00 22,723.02 West Midlands 0 73,521.56 63,282.48 East of England 0 67,779.66 53,367.56 South east 0 68,400.00 33,435.37 South west 0 72,331.10 63,803.98 Unknown 0 0 4,500.00 Total 0 392,313.30 308,953.90 Community service grants North east 0 141,495.00 167,714.90 North west 0 174,842.40 138,371.70 Yorkshire and Humber 0 126,605.40 71,385.59 East Midlands 0 278,272.20 55,686.99 West Midlands 0 269,418.70 169,568.70 East of England 0 460,042.40 338,675.80 South east 0 238,094.80 160,791.60 South west 2,990.90 360,381.50 315,091.10 Unknown 0 0 6,448.69 Total 2990.90 392,313.30 1,423,735.00 Regional transport partnership grants North east 158,123.53 408,026.90 167,714.90 North west 225,173.34 619,335.50 138,371.70 Yorkshire and Humber 355,350.80 404,558.80 71,385.59 East Midlands 270,180.92 524,587.50 55,686.99 West Midlands 405,339.67 1,207,526.00 169,568.70 East of England 13,182,309.48 612,624.30 338,675.80
Location 2000–01 2001–02 12002–03 South east 719,663.51 1,138,787.00 160,791.60 South west 502,164.97 503,172.20 315,091.10 Unknown 767,688.14 696,444.70 6,448.69 Total 16,585,994.00 6,115,602.00 1,423,735.00 Overall total 770,678.10 1,596,134.00 1,976,342.00 1 Please note 2002£03 figures are incomplete. Figures only reflect the grants awarded before 15 November 2002. The English Rural Development Programme's Rural Enterprise Scheme provides, among other measures, support towards basic services for the rural economy and population and support towards the renovation and development of villages.
The basic services measure can include assistance towards setting up costs and initial operating costs for the provision of small scale transport e.g. mini-bus links, voluntary carer schemes, "out of school" child care schemes and projects that provide information and communication technology links as well as other infrastructure provision benefiting rural communities and businesses. The renovation and development of villages measure can include assistance towards the renovation of dilapidated buildings for commercial or community use or multi-functional village halls which combine both social and economic facilities.
Committed1 expenditure under the Rural Enterprise Scheme through measures that can contribute to the alleviation of social exclusion:
1 These figures represent committed (not actual) expenditure over the lifetime of all the approved projects under RES's basic services and renovation and development of villages measures. There is no guarantee that all the funding displayed specifically relates to expenditure on social exclusion projects.
£ Region 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Eastern 0 169,933.00 0 East Midlands 0 305,164.00 170,870.00 London 0 0 0 North east 0 0 37,157.00 North west 0 81,578.00 23,825.00 South east 0 81,312.00 4,808.00 South west 0 142,236.00 504,131 West Midlands 0 349,340.00 82,647.00 Yorks and Humber 0 35,522.00 189,191.00 Total 0 1,165,085.00 1,012,629.00