HC Deb 23 June 1982 vol 26 cc288-90
12. Mr. Beaumont-Dark

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the progress of the partnership authorities.

Mr. King

I believe that the partnerships are now operating in a more effective way following the changes that we have made, and we are anxious to stimulate further activity to tackle inner city problems. In this connection my right hon. Friend, myself and other Ministers will be holding a series of one-day presentations in different parts of the country covering the whole range of initiatives that can help these problems.

Mr. Beaumont-Dark

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the new Conservative-controlled Birmingham city council values its partnership authority and would welcome an early meeting with the Minister to discuss the many problems that we must solve if we are to put Birmingham on the move again?

Mr. King

I welcome what my hon. Friend says. As chairman of the Birmingham partnership I can say that there has been good bipartisan support from both sides of the council. In recognition of the importance of these issues I can confirm that the first of the one-day presentations, with my right hon. Friend, myself and other colleagues, will take place next Monday in Birmingham, with representatives from Birmingham and other neighbouring areas.

Mr. Eastham

Do not Ministers contradict themselves when they recognise the needs of the partnership areas and yet, using the illustration of Manchester, take away assisted area status, which would help to create jobs and prosperity in an area?

Mr. King

I do not want to trespass into the problem of assisted area status, but one of the problems was the wide distribution. In an effort to help everybody, nobody was helped. We are determined to bring real help to the assisted areas.

Mr. Steen

Does the Minister agree that one of the best ways to help the inner city areas is to reclaim derelict land? Can he explain why the Government's plan in the Derelict Land Bill is to give the public sector a 100 per cent. grant towards land reclamation, but the private sector only 80 per cent.? Surely we should discriminate in favour of the private rather than the public sector.

Mr. King

My hon. Friend will be aware that the Bill to which he has referred, which I hope will complete its progress in the House by the end of this week, concerns much more than the possibility of more flexibility in the derelict land programme. The 80 per cent. grant is an improvement on the arrangements that exist. Derelict land reclamation is an important part of our inner city programme. We have taken a range of initiatives for which we shall seek wider understanding in the country. We believe that we have created a package of considerable size to help with the problems.

Mr. Tilley

Does the Minister appreciate that the word "partnership" rings somewhat hollow in Lambeth, because the Secretary of State has decided that, in relation to the biggest development in the Lambeth partnership area for many years—the Vauxhall bridge foot development—the local consultation and democratic procedures are being swept away by the use of a special development order, which means that the local people, with whom the Secretary of State claims to be in partnership, have no say at all in what happens on that site?

Mr. King

I understand that the development is taking place in accordance with local planning policies and conforms with them. I understand that local people were invited to be involved in the procedure. I do not wish to trespass on a matter that will come up later, but in relation to the south bank of the Thames one can only pray for some initiative to bring more distinction to the architecture. If the present process contributes to that it should be welcomed.