Partnership Committees (Hansard, 17 December 1980)

§ 1. Sir William Elliott
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the work of the partnership committees is being effective in helping to revitalise the inner areas of the older industrial cities.

§ The Minister for Local Government and Environmental Services (Mr. Tom King)
I am satisfied that the partnership committees are making an effective contribution, but I am continuing to seek ways in which this may be improved.

§ Sir William Elliott
While my right hon. Friend is satisfied, may I ask whether he would agree that the revitalisation of inner cities depends to an advanced degree upon private enterprise and private investment? Does he therefore agree that it would be a good thing if private business were represented on these inner city committees, in the shape of banks, building societies and chambers of commerce?

§ Mr. King
As my hon. Friend will be aware, while such organisations are not represented on the actual committees, we have taken an initiative to set up monitoring committees for the partnerships, on which local and private enterprise is very much represented. We have already established this for Liverpool and for Manchester-Salford, and we hope shortly to establish one for Newcastle-Gateshead as well.

§ Mr. Eastham
Would the Minister care to indicate clearly to cities such as Manchester, which are included in the partnership programme, what the allocations will really be? Will they be subject to cuts? Will he give some clear indication whether they are to continue as was originally intended several years ago?

§ Mr. King
I hope to advise the partnership very shortly on the allocation for Manchester-Salford. I understand the partnership's concern to know its figures for the next year as soon as possible. I hope that we shall be able to provide that information very shortly.

§ Mr. Thornton
Will the Minister agree to look at the arrangements for the Liverpool partnership committee, with particular regard to the allocation to the voluntary sector? Is he aware that there is considerable feeling there that, unless this review is undertaken, some of the projects that have been started will have to terminate through lack of finance? Does he appreciate that that would certainly not be in keeping with the spirit which I know the Minister wishes to see coming out of the partnership committee?

§ Mr. King
We are most anxious to encourage the voluntary sector, as my hon. Friend will be aware, and we have this consideration very much in mind in the allocation proposals that we hope to announce shortly.

§ Mr. Guy Barnett
Will the Minister say to what degree he has been successful in bending the main programmes of Government expenditure towards the areas in which inner city partnerships are responsible, and can he say anything about the degree to which the rate support grant has been used in that respect?

§ Mr. King
I think that the hon. Member will be aware, from the statement made yesterday and from the very comprehensive documents that we have published, of the way in which the rate support grant allocation is being determined in future to try to take account of the relative needs of different areas. He will see, in that respect, that there are certain aspects in which the sort of characteristics that characterise inner city areas are reflected in the allocation arrangements. As regards the bending proposals, he will see from the announcements that we shall make shortly the extent to which this is being continued.