§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those facilities which become available to (a) the local authority and (b) local businesses if an enterprise zone is granted inner city partnership status.
§ Sir George YoungUnder section 1 of the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978, the Secretary of State may by order designate district authorities on the basis of special social need. Such designation empowers the authority to make loans and grants for improving amenities, and for 127W converting or improving buildings. In the case of partnership authorities, he also, under section 7 of the Act, enters into special arrangements designed to secure concerted action. In such districts, he may, under section 8 of the Act, by order specify "special areas" in which local authorities may exercise additional powers to make loans for site preparation, grants towards rent, and grants towards loan interest to small firms. Within partnership areas, the Government make additional resources available under the urban programme.
Declaration of Enterprise zones under schedule 32 to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, is not directly linked to powers contained in the Inner Urban Areas Act, but all authorities containing enterprise zones have been invited to submit bids for urban development grant, which is specifically directed at revitalising local econonies.
§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are used in determining which areas are to receive inner city partnership status.
§ Sir George YoungThe selection of designated districts, including partnership authorities, under the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978, is based on census information about the degree of social deprivation in urban areas. Such factors as high unemployment, overcrowding, population loss, the incidence of single parent households and elderly persons living along make up the picture of multiple deprivation on which decisions are based. A detailed note on urban deprivation (Census Information Note No. 2) was placed in the Library of the House on 15 February 1983. Account is also taken of the availability of resources; other means of dealing with deprivation; and the prospects for effective use of resources in the area to alleviate the conditions giving rise to social need.
§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received about the possibility of granting inner city partnership status to Trafford Park or Old Trafford.
§ Sir George YoungMy right hon. Friend and other Ministers have received about a dozen such representations.