§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the fund for community development work was spent in(a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03 to date. [78404]
§ Alun MichaelThe proposal to support community development workers was announced in the rural White Paper in November 2000. I understand from the Countryside Agency that bids from rural community councils to employ additional community development workers to work with small rural communities to tackle the problem of social exclusion were invited in October 2001 for the three year period from April 2002. 37 posts have been approved. In addition, the Community Development Foundation has been contracted to develop a network of rural community development workers, including the posts funded through the Agency, to build capacity among the network, to spread good practice and to promote training. Total spend in the year to date is £385,691. There was no expenditure in 2000/01 and 2001/02.