§ 12. Mr. David Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider continuing the Glasgow eastern area renewal project in Glasgow for another three to five-year period beyond 31 March 1987 to enable it to complete the final one third of the job which it was set up to do.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Michael Ancram)The present phase of the project will come to an end in March 1987. Discussions are now under way on the future management arrangements for a continuing commitment to the east end of Glasgow after that date.
§ Mr. MarshallAs usual, the Minister has dodged the question. Is he not aware that unless this project is extended everything will go tragically wrong? Has he not been in the area recently to see for himself how much has still to be done and how far from completion the project is? Does he want to see much of the investment already made going to waste, or will he reconsider the position and agree to extend the project to enable it to be completed for the benefit of everyone involved, not least his own Government?
§ Mr. AncramAs the hon. Gentleman knows, I have made several visits to the area in the past two or three years and I am well aware of the kind of work that has been done. He should not underestimate the gains that have been made so far in the area, or the achievements of GEAR since its launch in 1976, which have often been very considerable and clearly evident in the progress that has been made towards tackling the problems that exist in the east end of Glasgow. The project has lasted 10 years and it is right that now, at the end of 10 years, the project should be ended and that there should be an evaluation of its successes so that similar projects may be used in other parts of Scotland.