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

Motion Text

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.