§ Mr. Freesonasked the Prime Minister if she will describe the duties of the Department of the Environment and the Department of Employment relating to the implementation of Government policies concerned with the regeneration of the inner cities.
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has responsibility for the inter-departmental urban programme which targets specific grant resources on urban areas to support a range of initiatives to stimulate enterprise, improve the environment and encourage self-help. He also has responsibility for other programmes and initiatives which274W aim to attract private investment and regenerate hard-pressed urban areas, including urban development corporations, urban development grant, derelict land grant and the new urban regeneration grant, and "Estate Action", an initiative to tackle the problems of urban housing estates.
My noble Friend the Secretary of State for Employment oversees the work of the five city action teams in the inner city partnership areas to improve the contribution of relevant Government programmes, including those of his Department and the Manpower Services Commission, Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment to meet the Government's urban policy objectives. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General and Minister for Employment is responsible for an inter-departmental inner city initiative involving eight task forces promoting enterprise and employment opportunities at neighbourhood level.