§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the pilot schemes announced since 1 May 1997 by his Department that involve local authorities in a lead or partnership capacity; if he will list each of the local authorities involved in each case; and what revenue and capital funding each local authority will receive through the pilot in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000 and (iv) 2000–01. [46041]
§ Mr. Macdonald[holding answer 15 June 1998]: There are a large number of pilot schemes across my Department involving local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally and the costs of providing it in full would be disproportionate. In most cases, the total sums involved in each scheme are less than £50,000; many involve no additional funding. The following are amongst the larger schemes for which my Department is responsible.
- 1. £16 million has been allocated to a pilot Rough Sleepers Initiative over 3 years 1997–98 to 1999–2000; and £9 million to a pilot Empty Homes Initiative in 1997–98 and 1998–99. The schemes are a mix of revenue and capital expenditure.
- 2. The Mental Health Development Fund involves funding of £3 million per year between 1998–99 and 2000–2001 for partnership schemes which demonstrate the breaking down of barriers to co-ordinated care and support.
- 3. The Alternatives to Exclusion Grant Programme involves funding of £3 million over 3 years to reduce the incidence of exclusion from school; the scheme mainly involves revenue funding; 18 councils will participate.
- 4. £1.3 million has been allocated to the New Deal for Communities Programme in 1998–99, to help neighbourhoods with high concentrations of deprivation. Edinburgh and Glasgow Councils will be involved in the pilots and more councils are to be designated.
- 5. The Public Libraries Challenge Fund of £250,000 was established on a pilot basis for 1997–98 only; 6 authorities received capital funding.