§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in providing more managed workshops in inner city areas.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeEnglish Estates is to be the focus for a major new DTI-funded programme to bring the public and private sectors together to provide managed workspaces for business start-ups in inner cities. Up to £11 million of public funding will go into the programme in the first year through English Estates which has set up a new subsidiary company to spearhead the programme. Companies are being invited to adopt workshops in the town or city of their choice by investing directly in the projects or by providing land, buildings or experienced managers to give business support on site. English Estates is looking for as much private sector involvement as possible and is already working up projects in Manchester, Rochdale, Preston, Nottingham, Doncaster, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Spitalfields, Hackney and Peckham.