HC Deb 09 March 1989 vol 148 cc592-3W
Mr. Brazier

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he intends to make any changes to the location of the inner-city task forces; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton

The Government's inner-city task forces have proved highly successful in creating jobs, encouraging training opportunities and stimulating enterprise in the areas where they work. They have now been involved in nearly 1,100 projects with total commitments of nearly £33 million.

The task force budget for 1989–90 will be £17 million, representing an increase of over 20 per cent. compared with the present year. I have today given approval for some 50 further task force projects involving funding of over £3 million, together with a number of other inner city projects amounting to about £2 million.

I have decided to establish new task forces in Bradford, in Lewisham (Deptford), and in Liverpool (Granby/Toxteth). My officials will be discussing their precise boundaries with the local authorities and City Action teams, with a view to the task forces starting their work as soon as possible.

These new task forces, like the existing ones, are not intended to be permanent Government agencies in the areas concerned. Their aim is to promote changes and provide opportunities which will have a continuing beneficial effect, and to foster the development of local organisations which can carry forward and build on the task forces' work when the task force itself leaves.

The task force in Birmingham, Handsworth is now nearing the completion of its programme, following my predecessor's announcement in June 1988 that it would come to an end in March 1989 and that the task force effort in Birmingham would be refocussed in east Birmingham. A very encouraging evaluation of the Handsworth task force's work, by independent consultants, was published last week.

In the light of this experience, and of the significant progress they have made, I have decided that it would be right now to set the end of this year as the date by which the task forces in Leicester (Highfields), Preston and Wolverhampton should complete their programme and withdraw from their areas. During that time they will continue their important task of building up the capacity of local bodies which can take over responsibility for their work in future. They will, therefore, be embarking on discussions locally about future arrangements, including where necessary some continued period of support for particular projects.

A number of important new projects by these task forces are among those I have announced today, and they will continue to welcome new proposals until the end of May.