HC Deb 24 February 1993 vol 219 cc867-9
3. Ms. Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the effects of the abolition of the urban programme on his inner city strategy.

9. Mr. Grocott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the effects of the abolition of the urban programme on his inner city strategy.

The Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Michael Howard)

The urban programme has not been abolished. We have made available £176 million for the urban programme in 1993–94, which will enable us to honour in full all existing commitments and provide £20 million for urban partnership fund projects as part of the new capital partnership programme. Planned resources for my Department's urban group of programmes for 1993–94 will increase by over £90 million, taking total spending to over £1 billion.

Ms. Corston

Is the Secretary of State aware that the effect of the cuts in the Bristol urban programme means that Bristol, which receives £1.7 million this year will receive £1 million next year, £500,000 the year after that, and after that, nothing? The cuts mean that jobs will be lost in areas such as Barton Hill in my constituency, where male unemployment is 43 per cent. They could also mean a threat to projects such as the provision of hostels for homeless women—and this in a city which, after London, has the highest number of homeless people.

What excuses will the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities offer when he goes to Bristol on Friday to explain why Bristol is to be treated in such a shabby fashion? What excuses does he have for the failure of his inner city policy?

Mr. Howard

When my hon. Friend goes to Bristol on Friday he will seek to ensure that the thoroughly misleading impression given by the hon. Lady is corrected. He will tell the people of Bristol about the £500,000 that will be made available to them through the urban partnership fund next year. He will tell them about the £9.3 million to be made available to Bristol development corporation next year. He will express the hope that the hon. Lady and her party will at last support the activities of that corporation. He will tell the people of Bristol that the 57 urban priority areas are expected to be able to spend between them £0.5 billion in capital receipts in the current year, and what tremendous opportunities there are if only their local authorities were prepared to play their full part in taking advantage of them.

Mr. Grocott

First, perhaps the Secretary of State will apologise to the House and to me for not following the normal parliamentary courtesy of letting us know when questions are linked. Will he get off his high horse and apologise?

Secondly, does the right hon. and learned Gentleman acknowledge that the loss of urban funding is a bitter blow to us in The Wrekin because many of our schemes, such'as home security and street lighting schemes, were designed to deal with vandalism and crime problems? Is it not a pretty absurd Government who have the Home Secretary telling us one day that law and order is a crucial issue when, the next day, the Secretary of State for the Environment instructs splendid local authorities, such as The Wrekin, to cut essential crime prevention measures?

Mr. Howard

The Wrekin will benefit from the urban programme to the extent of nearly £1 million this year and more than £500,000 next year. So far as crime is concerned, my Department will make available £130 million in the current year from estate action, crime prevention and security measures, and more than £23 million from our urban block of programmes on crime prevention. In all, 31 city challenge area partnerships have been formed with existing agencies to tackle crime in co-ordination with other urban regeneration measures. We are taking extremely seriously our responsibilities on measures to tackle crime effectively in inner cities.

Mr. Ward

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that as Opposition Members seem to know so little and are so unappreciative of what is being done to help the inner cities, the money would be well diverted to authorities that would put it to good and proper use?

Mr. Howard

I understand the feelings that make my hon. Friend say that, but at least Conservative Members recognise our responsibility to the people who live in the inner cities and we are determined to discharge those responsibilities, despite the misinformation and lack of co-operation from the Labour party.

Mr. John Marshall

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that his inner city strategy depends in part for its success on efficiency and honesty in local government? Lambeth, Liverpool, Sheffield and Hackney—that roll of dishonour is a cause of great shame to this country. Do we not need a wide-ranging inquiry into local government corruption?

Mr. Howard

My hon. Friend makes a telling point. In the light of his remarks it is hardly surprising that the Labour party do not even dare to hold their local government conference this year. It has been cancelled.

Mr. Vaz

For the Secretary of State's information, we have just had the local government conference. Why does not the Secretary of State have the courage to admit that his inner city policy is in a state of utter chaos? Will he assure the House that if the 57 urban programme authorities fail to raise the £500 million which he says that they will raise—and which the Chancellor told me that they would raise—the Government will be prepared to make up that shortfall for the local authorities concerned? Does he not understand that continual cutting of urban aid will lead to greater social deprivation and the destruction of local communities and will further increase the already high level of crime in our inner cities? What is he going to do about that?

Mr. Howard

Of course, I shall not give the hon. Gentleman the absurd assurance that he requests. If the Government automatically underwrite any shortfall, what incentive will local authorities have to make use of their ability to spend their capital receipts? What the hon. Gentleman and his party must understand is that local authorities have an important part to play and important responsibilities to discharge. We are making available to them the means to discharge those responsibilities. I hope that local authorities will take full advantage of those opportunities.

Mr. Streeter

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the £1.8 million recently granted to the city of Plymouth under the urban partnership fund is extremely welcome? The money will be used by the local authority, in partnership with the private sector, to breathe new life into inner city districts. Is my right hon. and learned Friend further aware that that is exactly the sort of development to which his policy is leading?

Mr. Howard

My hon. Friend is entirely right. When I visited Plymouth a few weeks ago I was delighted to see for myself the tremendous progress being made there and the potential that exists for further progress. I congratulate my hon. Friend and all those in Plymouth who are co-operating with the Government to make the most of the opportunities that are undoubtedly being made available to them.