§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the Countryside Agency's handling of its budgetary affairs in 2003–04; and if she will make a statement; [127765]
(2) if she will take steps to ensure that the finances of the Countryside Agency are managed in such a way that will ensure funding arrangements for partnerships can be made clear at an early stage for 2004–05 and left unchanged. [127766]
§ Alun MichaelI have discussed with the Countryside Agency the way in which it manages its finances in view of the "hold" placed on some budgets, including Vital Villages, at the start of this financial year. This was done by the Agency because of the very high level of applications received and the consequent need to target money at the areas of greatest need, but it is unfortunate that this caused uncertainty to a number of organisations who were dependent on the Countryside Agency grant for continuity of their work. I am drawing to the attention of the Agency and other organisations funded by Defra the requirements on finance contained in the Government's compact with the Voluntary Sector. It should be noted that the Agency's grant in aid has been significantly increased this year.
289WIt is for the Countryside Agency to manage its finances within the budgets set for it and has been doing so against the background both of the major and novel task of access mapping, whose costs depend on public responses which are hard to predict, and of the demand-led nature of its major grant programmes. Despite these factors the budget for Vital Villages has been held to the level set at the start of the year. Budgets have also been agreed for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will meet Hampshire county council to discuss the effect on its rural transport partnership of late changes in funding by the Countryside Agency. [127767]
§ Alun MichaelThe Countryside Agency manages the Rural Transport Partnership scheme on behalf of Defra and day to day decisions on the operation of the scheme are a matter for the Agency. However, the Agency has assured me that rather than cuts to the Rural Transport Partnership scheme, the budget for 2003–04 has been increased by £2 million since the original budget announcement. Demand for the scheme has been high and the funds available have had to be shared among as many projects as possible. In the South East region it is the Rural Transport Partnership officers themselves who have decided which projects should take priority.