§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales at what dates during the last 12 years his Department has reviewed the factors taken into account in assessing need or deprivation in communities and districts in Wales(a) in general and (b) in regard to eligibility for urban programme; and what changes have been made as a result of each review.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettSince 1979 the factors used to assess deprivation in Wales for general purposes and to determine eligibility for urban programme assistance have been reviewed and recalculated in 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986,408W 1988 and 1990. Since 1988 the index based upon these factors has been calculated for all electoral wards in Wales. Following the 1984 review three districts were added to the original five designated under the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978; following the review in 1986, two more districts were designated; and following the 1990 review all districts in Wales containing at least one deprived electoral ward became eligible to apply for urban programme assistance.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the factors which are taken into account by his Department in assessing need or deprivation in communities and districts in Wales(a) in general and (b) in regard to eligibility for urban programme.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe factors which are used to indicate deprivation for general purposes and for eligibility to the urban programme are high levels of unemployment, low levels of economically active population, high levels of low socio-economic groups in a population; high loss of population in the 20 and 59 years age group, high levels of permanent sickness in a population; high levels of overcrowding in housing, low levels of basic housing amenities, and an above average standard mortality rate.