HC Deb 10 March 1997 vol 292 cc36-7W
Mr. Denzil Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much financial assistance has been provided to date by(a) the Welsh Office and (b) the Welsh Development Agency towards the re-development of Llanelli town centre. [18509]

Mr. Hague

Between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 1996, the Welsh Office's urban programme and its successor, the strategic development scheme, contributed around £2.3 million towards the redevelopment of Llanelli town centre.

As part of the gradual delegation of responsibility to local authorities for administering SDS resources, £480,000 was allocated to Carmarthenshire county council in 1996–97 and £617,244 will be available in 1997–98 to approve new projects; it is for the council to determine whether its priorities for this assistance should include Llanelli town centre.

Information on financial assistance provided by the WDA is an operational matter for the agency. I have asked the acting chief executive to write to the right hon. Member with details. I shall arrange for a copy of the reply to be placed in the Library of the House.