CLOSURE OF VITAL VILLAGES PROGRAMME AND CUT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY'S BUDGET

Early day motion 975, tabled 19 April 2004 by James Gray (Conservative). Signed by 18 members.

That this House regrets the closure of the Vital Villages programme to new applicants; notes that this will have a detrimental effect on many communities in rural constituencies who, over the last three years, have received more than ú38 million from Vital Villages to improve local services; regrets also Defra's announcement that the Countryside Agency's grant-in-aid budget for 2004-05 will be cut from a planned ú104-5 million to ú95 million; notes that, while the Countryside Agency still hopes to deliver on the vast majority of their key objectives, they have had to make adjustments to their priorities; fears that this will mean reductions in help given to rural communities; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that this does not take place.

Signatures by party: Conservative 12, Liberal Democrat 3, Labour 2, Labour/Co-operative 1.