§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement about what was discussed at the meeting of the inner city partnership on Monday 5 March; what action was proposed; and what steps he suggested taking to carry out the aims and objectives of the Liverpool inner city partnership;
(2) if he will make a statement about the steps he proposed should be taken by the Liverpool inner city partnership at the meeting of 5 March to increase opportunities for employment in the partnership area.
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§ Mr. ShoreI chaired a meeting of the Liverpool inner city partnership committee on 5 March. The committee discussed and agreed upon a number of matters relating to the next phase of its work, including the framework for determining proposals for the second year of the programme and ways to measure the programme's effective ness. The committee also agreed to establish a forum for members of local voluntary organisations and groups to meet members and officials of the local authorities and central Government Departments to discuss the wider issues of partnership. An assessment of the land holdings in the partnership area of the majority statutory undertakers was also considered, and the committee asked for a broader review of land resources within the partnership area. Further thought is to be given to proposals by the local enterprise development unit for a training industrial and social development programme in inner Liverpool.
In the course of the meeting I announced an enhanced urban programme allocation for inner Liverpool of £13.5 million in 1980–81; I also indicated my support for the recent declaration under the Inner Urban Areas Act of a number of improvement areas in the partnership area by Liverpool city and Merseyside county councils.
The first year of the partnership's programme starts next month.