§ Dr. Jack CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessments she has made of the effect of the Government's policy on market towns in(a) Cumbria and (b) Copeland since the proposals were published; and if she will make a statement. [138470]
§ Alun MichaelIn Summer 2002, 76 out of the 120 towns that were then involved in the Market Towns Initiative (MTI) responded to a questionnaire survey. The findings provided a snapshot of what had been achieved in the first year of the MTI, particularly in four key areas: establishing partnerships; community involvement; getting the best out of the health check, vision and action plan; and project successes. This research note can be found at: http://www.countryside.gov.uk/Publications/ articles/crn_60.asp. No specific analysis of any town, district or county was undertaken. However, this year the Countryside Agency is working in partnership with Defra to carry out a more intensive analysis of the problems and achievements arising in the 200 + towns of the Market Towns Initiative. This report is due to be published in May 2004.