HC Deb 18 March 2004 vol 419 cc442-3W
Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what budget(a) was set for 2003–04 and (b) has been allocated for 2004–05 and 2005–06 by each Government Department for the Fair Share initiative, broken down by English region. [161650]

Estelle Morris

Fair share is an innovative joint New Opportunities Fund (NOF)/Community Fund initiative. The initiative began in April 2002, and targets 77 disadvantaged areas across the UK, which for a variety of reasons, have not had their 'fair share' of Lottery funding.

To date, approximately £58 million of the £180 million for the overall initiative has been distributed, 32 per cent. of the total allocated for the programme.

Money is not allocated to particular financial years. NOF have provided a breakdown of what has been committed in each local authority area (and hence region) and I have arranged for copies of the document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.