Wembley (Hansard, 21 July 1999)

§ Mr. Gardiner
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what capital sums English Partnerships has allocated to the Wembley Task Force in 1999. [91703]
514W
list annual bus ridership figures from 1992 to 1998 in (a) Greater London, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) Merseyside, (d) Greater Manchester, (e) South Yorkshire, (f) West Yorkshire, (g) West Midlands and (h) the rest of England. [91406]

§ Ms Glenda Jackson
Across England as a whole bus patronage rose by one per cent. over the year 1996–97 to 1997–98. Bus ridership, measured as bus passenger journeys, is shown in the table. Data appear in tables 10 and 16 of the Transport Statistics Report "Focus on Public Transport Great Britain: 1999 edition", published by The Stationery Office. Data for 1998–99 will not be available until later this year.

§ Mr. Raynsford
None. Should the proposed Task Force identify any projects where support for physical regeneration may be required then it is for English Partnerships to consider each project proposal on its merits, against London-wide priorities, and in light of the resources available to the Agency. The Task Force will be seeking to maximise private sector investment in to the area on the back of the significant investment already made by the public sector.

§ Mr. Gardiner
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Wembley Stadium Development Monitoring Committee has to consult and involve(a) Brent Council and (b) local stakeholders. [91704]

§ Mr. Raynsford
The Wembley Monitoring Committee is there to ensure effective co-ordination across Government and their agencies in respect of the national stadium project, to consider issues arising and agree handling. As the local planning authority, it is not appropriate for Brent to be part of that Committee. We are, however, maintaining close contact with Brent and 515W my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport and the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning (Mr. Caborn), met the Leader of Brent Council last week. The local community will, of course, be consulted as part of the planning process.