§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the regeneration aid for English areas affected by redundancies in the steel industry announced in May 2001 has been spent; and if she will make a statement. [25960]
§ Ms HewittThe majority of the £48 million package of regeneration measures for areas affected by the closures announced by Corus in May 2001 consisted of major infrastructure projects funded by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. Projects of this kind are necessarily slow-moving, and little money is spent in the early stages. Progress on the projects is as follows
Durham University Stockton Campus (budget £19.4 million)—discussions are continuing with Environment Agency and Highways Agency on the impact of the development. Site reclamation work will commence once this is concluded. No significant expenditure to date.Phase 2 of the Middlehaven project (budget £16 million)—Detailed design work is now underway. A new junction with the A66 will be built during March 2002, with work on the site following this in spring 2002. No significant expenditure to date.New Tees crossing feasibility study (budget £250,000)—£118,520 committed to be spent in financial year 2001–02, the remainder in early 2002–03.Light Rapid Transit system feasibility study (budget £250,000)—£93,525 committed to be spent in financial year 2001–02, the remainder in early 2002–03.A66 Longnewton Junction improvements (budget £4.7 million)—the project is included in the Highways Agency budget and work programme. The Agency expects to have identified a detailed work programme in the next two months.Broadband communications in Teesside and North Lincolnshire (budget £500,000 in each)—proposals from Regional Development Agencies are under consideration by DTI as part of the £30 million fund for the roll-out of broadband communications across the UK. Programme approval is expected in the next month.Enterprise Grants in Scunthorpe (budget of up to £500,000)—expenditure is dependent on applications from companies wishing to expand. No expenditure has yet been made.The remainder of the package announced on 3 May consisted of an extension of the Job Transition Service to the areas affected by the closures, and is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of those eligible for compensation payments as a result of the redundancies declared by Corns in May 2001 have now received them. [25961]
§ Ms HewittBetween 23 October 2001 when payments began and 22 January 2002, a total of 5,528 single lump sum payments of £2,480 will have been made to individuals who lost their jobs with Corns as the result of the company's announcement of 1 February 2001.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list payments of regeneration aid that have been made to areas affected by Corus steel closures since January 2001. [25959]
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§ Ms HewittPayments of regeneration aid are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. For details of expenditure on the package of measures announced as a result of the Corus closures on 5 May 2001, I refer the hon. Member to my reply today to question No. 25960.