HC Deb 27 July 1977 vol 936 cc625-7
17. Mr. Joseph Dean

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress has been made in concluding partnerships with local authorities with inner city problems other than those named in the announcement of 6th April.

Mr. Shore

Over 20 local authorities have approached me about partnership arrangements. My colleagues and I are considering their submissions and have seen representatives of many of the areas concerned. I hope to reach decisions in the next few weeks. As I have explained, the scope for further partnerships will be strictly limited.

Mr. Dean

I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer and the speed with which he has processed this matter, bearing in mind that the original statement was made only in April. May I urge him to treat this as a matter of utmost urgency, so that cities such as Leeds, if they are lucky in their applications, can get on with the work as quickly as possible?

Mr. Shore

I am conscious of the need for speed. We have received slightly more applications than I had expected, and this has meant a little delay. However, I intend to complete the processes of selection within the next few weeks.

Mr. Lawrence

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that these will be genuine partnerships and that the authorities will not be subject to dictation from central Government on matters that are of purely local concern?

Mr. Shore

I can give the hon. Gentleman that assurance. We do not intend to dictate. We intend to have genuine partnerships. Unless there is a real willingness to enter a partnership, the right psychological and planning support that is necessary to make the scheme a success will not be forthcoming.

Mr. Hardy

I welcome the progress that is being made in dealing with the grave problems of the inner city areas. However, will my right hon. Friend take care to ensure that similar problems that exist on a smaller scale in smaller towns of the older industrial areas of England are not ignored, to the grave disadvantage of the people who do not live in the cities?

Mr. Shore

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. I do not intend to ignore the many small urban authorities which have these problems but which are not within the special category of partnership authorities. We shall do our best to assist them, too.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that in the recent debate he stated that his inner city partners would have to reallocate their resources? What exactly does he mean by reallocation? Will he say as clearly as possible what local authority services he expects will be reduced as a result of the reallocation of inner city programmes?

Mr. Shore

That is obviously a detailed matter for the local authorities themselves. We are saying to the local authorities, however, that, apart from the urban aid programme grants that we are giving, the Government are prepared to look at their main programmes of expenditure and to seek to give greater priority to those areas with the greatest needs and problems. We would expect local authorities to look at their total expenditure and at the possibility of giving extra assistance to those parts of their areas where the needs are greatest.