§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what central Government support Coventry can expect in addressing its inner-city problems.
§ Mr. Robin SquireMy Department and others have a range of complementary programmes to address the problems of Coventry and other urban priority areas totalling some £4 billion a year. As far as my own Department's programmes are concerned, in addition to substantial resources to tackle housing problems, in the608W current financial year, Coventry has been allocated £4.6 million under the urban programme and task force funding of almost £1.3 million.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the urban programme as a source of support for voluntary organisations in Coventry working in the poorer areas; how much has been provided to those organisations under the urban programme; and what arrangements he has made to continue support for voluntary organisations when the urban programme is phased out.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe urban programme—UP—has, and will continue to, support in Coventry and other urban priority areas some excellent projects developed by voluntary sector and other organisations. The city council's annual report indicates that £2.1 million was spent on voluntary sector projects in Coventry in 1991–92. Commitments arising from voluntary sector projects approved as part of Coventry's UPs in 1992–93 and previous years will be honoured in full. In addition, the urban partnership fund, part of the capital partnership programme, will provide up to £20 million in 1993–94 in uncommitted UP resources to support capital and directly linked revenue projects in the 57 urban priority areas. It is open to local authorities to involve voluntary organisations in particular projects.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that Coventry will be granted inner area status from 1994–95 onwards.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe circumstances of Coventry and all other authorities in England will be considered as part of a review of urban priority areas later this year using 1991 census and other data. The review will inform decisions on geographical targeting and the balance of programmes required to tackle the needs of urban areas.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what detailed studies were conducted prior to the Government's decision to wind up the urban programme; and if he will place copies of their findings in the Library.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThere will continue to be a substantial urban programme—UP—in 1993–94 amounting to £176 million which will fund existing commitments and provide £20 million for the urban partnership fund. Decisions on the new UP arrangements were taken having regard to all the relevant factors.