§ Jean CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Bristol, East constituency, the effects on Bristol of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [150551]
§ Mr. CabornSince May 1997 my Department has introduced and developed a variety of initiatives which will help regenerate the more disadvantaged areas of Bristol. Those in my hon. Friend's constituency include: £7.6 million in total from the EC URBAN programme used to fund projects such as Bristol East Traders—an innovative scheme which has brought together under common aims trading communities previously separated by physical and cultural barriers; a £300,000 grant to the Easton Business Centre towards a £741,000 project to provide 19 enterprise workshops on derelict land in the heart of the area; nearly £100,000 to the Black Development Agency for a scheme dedicated to providing a major resource centre giving black-led voluntary organisations the opportunity to co-locate in accessible serviced premises; and under the Estate Action programme over £1 million has recently been used to continue the improvements being made to tower blocks and estates in east Bristol.