Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Rural Development Programme for England Network on potential changes to deadlines for funding applications during the covid-19 outbreak.

Defra officials have had a number of discussions with rural stakeholders about the impact of COVID-19 on existing and future Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) projects. Application deadlines for some RDPE schemes, including Historic Buildings Grants, have already been extended. We are examining the timetable for the current round of the Growth Programme and will inform applicants of any changes if they are made.