§ 13. Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the method of administration of funds made available under the Inner Urban Areas Act in the London Dockland and adjacent areas.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Giles Shaw)The Docklands local authorities will continue to have the power to give loans and grants under the Act, and will continue to receive an allocation of resources for such projects outside the urban development area. Within the urban development area, the London Docklands Development Corporation has the same powers.
§ Mr. SpearingDoes the Minister agree that within the area covered by the LDDC, the boundaries of which are somewhat arbitrary, it would be for the benefit of all if the LDDC listened to the local authority and thus fulfilled the universal wish that it should act in co-operation with local authorities and in accordance with local wishes?
§ Mr. ShawI take the hon. Gentleman's point, but he will agree that in many of its activities the LDDC has already shown great co-operation with the local authorities and in many cases has entered into joint operations. I have every confidence that that atmosphere will continue.
§ Mr. SquireWill my hon. Friend confirm that the leader of the local authority sits on the LDDC? Will he also undertake to give greater publicity to the considerable achievement of the LDDC already, and our great expectations for even greater achievements in the future?
§ Mr. ShawI entirely endorse my hon. Friend's view. In its relatively short life the LDDC has achieved a great deal. I believe that the first show houses are to be opened at Beckton by my right hon. Friend on 26 February.