§ Mr. QuinnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber in assisting regeneration projects in the region. [128642]
§ Ms Beverley Hughes[holding answer 12 July 2000]: The Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber (GOYH) continues to contribute effectively to maximising competitiveness and prosperity in the region, and supporting integrated policies for an inclusive society. In particular it has worked closely with Yorkshire Forward (the Regional Development Agency) to support it in its first full year of operation.
During the past year GOYH has managed and developed the wide range of Government programmes and initiatives that contribute to the regeneration of the region. Examples include:
New Deal for Communities (NDC): Bradford and Hull have each received £50 million and £55 million respectively over 10 years under the first round of NDC and Doncaster and Sheffield have been invited to submit bids for schemes.
Housing Investment Programme: £207 million was allocated to local authorities for 2000–01, 46 per cent. more than the previous year.
Regional Selective Assistance (RSA): RSA to the value of over £15 million was offered to businesses. This is expected to lead to capital investment of £207 million and the creation/safeguarding of over 6,200 jobs.
European Funding: GOYH has worked hard with regional partners to ensure that all available resources under the last round of European funds were committed 626W unscheduled line closures on the London Underground that have occurred since 1 January; and if he will set out the (a) cause and (b) duration of each line closure. [130191]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 11 July 2000]: This is an operational matter for London Underground who have supplied details of unscheduled line closures (defined for this purpose as delays of more than four hours) as set out in the following table.
by the closing date of 31 December 1999. Over £560 million of funding has been committed to support a wide range of projects that maximise the benefits to the region. GOYH continues to work closely with partners to ensure that the new European programmes for 2000–06 are ready to start in 2000.
Local Transport: Last year the region's local authorities received a total allocation of £109 million for their provisional local transport plans (LTPs). GOYH has continued to support the local authorities with the preparation of their full LTPs, which will cover the five years to 2005–06.
Working with Local Government: GOYH has continued to support the modernisation of local government and has contributed to the assessment process for Beacon council and Invest to Save applications from local authorities.
In looking to the future, the Government Office will continue to work closely with Yorkshire Forward and other partners to deliver the shared vision of "A world class, prosperous region".