HC Deb 28 November 1986 vol 106 cc391-2W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department in the inner-city area of Manchester;

(2) if he will give details of actions taken by the inner-city task force in Manchester;

(3) if he will give details of the budget of the Manchester inner-city task force; and how much has been spent.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

[pursuant to his reply, 27 November 1986, c. 324]: The task force has established contacts with a wide variety of local community organisations, with the local authority and with the private sector. A steering group composed of local people has recently been formed to assist the task force in its work. A plan has been drawn up as a guide to action in tackling the problems of the area. Under this plan a number of projects designed to increase employment and improve the employability of local people are being worked up as a matter of priority. These include:

  1. (a) the establishment, in co-operation with a major clearing bank, of a small grant and loan scheme for local small businesses;
  2. (b) assistance to the youth business initiative;
  3. (c) pro-active business counselling support for participants in the enterprise allowance scheme;
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  4. (d) the establishment of a managed workshop in the task force area;
  5. (e) support for community programme projects run by newly trained local managers;
  6. (f) support for training local people in housing association work in conjunction for positive action for training in housing (PATH);
  7. (g) the development with the private sector of a scheme to train local people in building and construction skills;
  8. (h) the conversion, by local people, of railway arches in North Hulme into business start up units.

A substantial number of other projects at various stages of development. The task force is also working closely with the private sector, other Government Departments and statutory and voluntary agencies in the area to unlock all available resources and to ensure that they are targeted to maximum effect.

All task forces have access to the central project funds of the inner cities initiative and to date some £33,000 has been allocated to projects in the Moss Side and Hulme task force area. Projects under development so far, which include those described above are expected to attract grant support in this financial year of around £277,000.

My Department also plays a full part, together with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment, in the Manchester/Salford city action team. In the current financial year together with the Manpower Services Commission, it will be spending some £26 million in the area the team covers on programmes of employment help to local people.