§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
How the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will allocate the £0.5 million to create a rural evidence base as announced on 7 April; what specific projects will benefit; and whether a timetable has been laid down for the results from such work. [HL2881]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty):The additional £0.5 million per year has been allocated to the research budget of the Rural Economies and Communities Directorate (RECD). The priorities for research are outlined in the draft RECD Research Strategy for 2003–06 which was also published on 7 April (available at http://www.defra.gov. uk/ science/S_IS/Strategy_03_06/Directorate_HTM L/RECD. asp). A detailed work programme is being developed with a timetable for delivery, and projects are let on a rolling basis. The work programme includes projects on statistics, rural productivity, and access to services such as health, education and transport. As projects are let within the RECD programme, they are listed on the Defra website at http://www2.defra.gov.uk/research/ project_data/projects.asp?M = KWS& = RE0&SCOPE = 0. Results will be made available on the same website as each project is completed.