LANCASHIRE RURAL FUTURES

That this House recognises that the Lancashire Rural Futures partnership has helped rural businesses develop new opportunities for nine years since it was set up as the Bowland Initiative in 1999; notes that the initiative has created and safeguarded more than 1,200 jobs and facilitated the investment of over £26 million into rural Lancashire; regrets that the project is due to close on 31st March 2008, a move that will represent a significant blow to the rural community and those members of staff who will be made redundant; understands that Lancashire County Council and Business Link Lancashire had offered almost half the funding to maintain the project; is disappointed that the North West Development Agency declined to match that funding and assist Lancashire Rural Futures; and calls on the North West Development Agency to reverse its decision and to fund Lancashire Rural Futures.