§ 11. Mr. Laneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a further statement on his programme for tackling urban deprivation.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonIn addition to the existing programmes directed to this end, the Home Office have now had extensive discussions with four metropolitan district councils in England—Bradford, Gateshead, Wands-worth and the Wirral—with whose collaboration we are seeking to develop new machinery of comprehensive community programmes for identifying and meeting the needs of the disadvantaged.
§ Mr. LaneMust not the Government's welcome commitment to a more positive race relations policy be matched by a stronger attack on urban deprivation in order to benefit disadvantaged people, white or coloured? If the Government were to divert money to that purpose which they are wasting in other directions would it not transform the conditions of many inner city areas?
§ Mr. LyonThe hon. Gentleman's words strike a responsive chord in my breast since he, too, was a Minister with responsibilities for race relations and we know the problems of inner cities. We are treating the matter urgently, and I hope that we shall be able to do something in the near future.
§ Mr. SteenWhy has the Minister decided not to extend the community development projects, especially as they introduce a radical approach in tackling urban deprivation by getting people to identify and solve their own problems?
§ Mr. LyonThere has been no decision to curtail community development projects. So far as I am aware, the matter will continue as at present.