Annex
Letter from the Minister of State, Department
for Transport to the Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, Minister of State
for Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality, Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Following to my recent attendance at the Transport
Select Committee's Inquiry on "Rural Railways" on 15
December, I was asked about future funding support for the Association
of Community Rail Partnerships (ACORP). As you will know ACORP
and the Community Rail Partnerships are both very important to
the successful implementation of the Community Rail Strategy.
I would therefore welcome your views on their future funding in
light of the impending changes to the Countryside Agency, so that
I may respond more effectively to the Committee.
The Strategic Rail Authority cannot make a commitment
to funding in the next financial year, as it does not yet have
a clear position on what funding it will have available for this
type of expenditure. However, it is hoped that the Authority will
be able to maintain its funding support to ACORP in this financial
year, pending transfer of responsibilities to the Department.
I am copying this letter to Gwyneth Dunwoody,
Chairman of the Transport Select Committee for information.
Tony McNulty
18 January 2005
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