Written Question · S3W-22943 · Session 3
Whether it has run out of funding for the Rural Priorities scheme for 2009.
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has run out of funding for the Rural Priorities scheme for 2009.
The answer
We have not run out of funding for the Rural Priorities scheme for 2009.
Rural Priorities is successfully investing in rural Scotland, and in four rounds we have approved £124 million for 1,800 projects in rural Scotland. SRDP has a huge role to play in Scotland''s economic recovery and the funding delivered so far demonstrates the Scottish Government''s commitment to rural Scotland.
By making £10 million available for the next round we are giving rural businesses “ large and small “ the chance to start even more projects which will create sustainable rural communities for future generations.
With that in mind, we will hold two further funding rounds in this calendar year; one in August for 2009 funding, and one in November, which will concentrate on opening up the 2010 budget. The closing date for the August round will be June 22.
I can also confirm that in the future we intend to hold three funding rounds per calendar year which will give potential applicants a clear timetable for the remainder of the scheme.
The high number of applications so far shows that Rural Priorities has captured the imagination of rural Scotland and their increasing quality demonstrates that its objectives are increasingly understood, although we recognise the need for improving certain elements.
Rural Priorities is successfully investing in rural Scotland, and in four rounds we have approved £124 million for 1,800 projects in rural Scotland. SRDP has a huge role to play in Scotland''s economic recovery and the funding delivered so far demonstrates the Scottish Government''s commitment to rural Scotland.
By making £10 million available for the next round we are giving rural businesses “ large and small “ the chance to start even more projects which will create sustainable rural communities for future generations.
With that in mind, we will hold two further funding rounds in this calendar year; one in August for 2009 funding, and one in November, which will concentrate on opening up the 2010 budget. The closing date for the August round will be June 22.
I can also confirm that in the future we intend to hold three funding rounds per calendar year which will give potential applicants a clear timetable for the remainder of the scheme.
The high number of applications so far shows that Rural Priorities has captured the imagination of rural Scotland and their increasing quality demonstrates that its objectives are increasingly understood, although we recognise the need for improving certain elements.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-22943 by reference.