§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been(a) applied for and (b) spent on market town regeneration by her Department in (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2001–02 and (iii) 2002–03 to date. [78400]
§ Alun MichaelThe 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 the £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 £2.9m by the regional development agencies and some £2.5m 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 RDAs and other partners.