§ 36. Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans the Government have to eradicate poverty in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Government's economic policies are designed to sustain long-term growth which will have benefits for all members of society and the defeat of inflation is essential if this is to be achieved. Monetary and fiscal policies will continue to be dedicated to this objective.
A number of Government programmes are designed to address the complex problems of poverty, including the four Scottish Office-led urban partnership initiatives and the urban programme. This has a budget of £81 million in 1992–93—up from £76 million in 1991–92—and provides 75 per cent. central Government support to projects, in all urban areas of exceptional need, which aim to address problems of poverty and disadvantage.