§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask he Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that the assistance provided currently under section 11 grant posts to Rotherham ethnic minority children who need help with English will be maintained under the single regeneration budget process.
§ Mr. CurryI have been asked to reply.
The single regeneration budget has a range of objectives, including enhancing the employment prospects, education and skills of local people, particularly the young and those at a disadvantage, and promoting equality of opportunity. It is also intended to 854W promote initiatives of benefit to ethnic minorities. In line with these objectives, on-going commitments under section 11, part of which has been absorbed within the SRB from 1 April 1994, will continue to be honoured. In addition, the SRB will be able to provide support for new education and other projects aimed at ethnic minority communities through the bidding arrangements introduced for 1995–96 and later years.
Rotherham is also eligible to bid for section 11 resources under the terms of a circular issued by the Home Office on 7 September. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary announced on 22 November that section 11 funding for the current bidding round is to be doubled from £15 million to £30 million, and that the deadline for applications for funding is to be extended to 30 December 1994.