§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of the Market Towns Initiative. [155949]
§ Alun MichaelAn initial assessment of the Market Towns Initiative was undertaken at the end of the first year, in the summer of 2002 and is available at http://www.countryside.gov.uk/Publications/articles/Publication tcm2–13687.asp
Defra and the Countryside Agency are now in the process of carrying out a full assessment which will identify the achievements of the 227 towns taking part in the initiative and any difficulties that have been experienced. A final report will be available in June this year.
An evaluation of the Market Towns Initiative will also be carried out as part of the Rural Policy Evaluation Framework which will cover a range of key policy and programme based areas. The process and timetable for the framework evaluation will be finalised shortly.