HC Deb 21 July 1976 vol 915 cc504-5W
Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the functions of distributing CDP central reports, meeting visitors seeking information about the community development project and providing speakers to universities and other bodies on CDP, at present being carried out by members of the CDP Information and Intelligence Unit, are being transferred to his Department.

Mr. John

So that the findings of community development projects continue to be readily available to all those concerned with tackling the problems of urban deprivation after the CDP Information and Intelligence Unit closes on 30th September.

Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extra staff will be employed within his Department to take the place of the staff being made redundant at the CDP Information and Intelligence Unit; what is the additional cost of these staff; and what previous knowledge of CDP the staff employed will have.

Mr. John

Our Department is at present considering how some of the functions now performed by the CDP Information and Intelligence Unit can best be carried on after the unit closes. It is not yet possible to say what staff will be required for this purpose.

Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to publish and distribute CDP Inter-Project Reports now nearing completion.

Mr. John

Our proposals on this matter are being considered by the Centre for Environmental Studies.

Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure the production of an overall assessment of the national community development project experiment, beyond the request to the projects for individual final reports.

Mr. John

Our Department is at present considering this matter.

Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the acceleration of the problems of inner city areas, he will reconsider his decision to close the Centre for Community Development Project.

Mr. John

No.

Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he decided to close down the central information unit which has had the task of co-ordinating the work of the individual projects on inner city areas.

Mr. John

We could not, in the present economic climate, justify extending the life of the CDP Information and Intelligence Unit beyond the period of the present agreement with the Centre for Environmental Studies in view of the unexpectedly early closure of three local projects and the consequent reduction in the number of teams to be assisted by the unit and available to contribute to interproject studies. In addition, we are concerned that the remaining teams should devote their main efforts in the final period of their lives to local activity and to drawing out the lessons of their work for national as well as local policies for tackling urban deprivation.