§ Mr. Rookerasked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement outlining progress in each of the eight areas mentioned in his oral statement of 6 February, Official Report, column 446, on Government initiatives in the inner cities, giving numbers of jobs created and money spent and committed and the activities of his local staff.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeSince the initiative was announced on 6 February, inner city task forces have been set up in each of the eight areas mentioned in my statement. The task forces are working closely with their local communities, local authorities, central Government Departments and agencies and the private sector to identify key issues and priorities for action. Progress is encouraging and work is well under way on drawing up programmes for action.
So far some £250,000 of the additional resources set aside for the task forces has been committed for four projects; a personal services training scheme in Handsworth, a business action team to give advice to small and medium employers also in Handsworth, a scheme in Chapeltown to provide specialised training for local people in banks, building societies and other financial and commercial institutions and an enterprise workshop scheme in St. Pauls.
The initiative has also had an influence on the spending patterns of a number of other Government programmes and schemes with extra attention being paid to the needs of the task force areas.