HC Deb 25 January 2001 vol 361 cc679-80W
Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide details of the budgets of each of the RDAs for funding urban regeneration projects in(a) the current and (b) the next financial year. [147236]

Ms Armstrong

Urban regeneration projects are included in both the Land and Property Programme and Single Regeneration Budget run by the RDAs. In 2000–01 this element of their approved budgets is as follows:

£ million
One NorthEast 129.2
Northwest Development Agency 165.3
Yorkshire Forward 156.3
East Midlands Development Agency 53.7
Advantage West Midlands 104.1
East of England Development Agency 22.4
South East Development Agency 64.6
South West Development Agency 72.9
London Development Agency 275.7
Total 1,044.2

We have not yet approved budgets for the RDAs for 2001–02.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement about the participation of SEEDA in the next round of SRB bids; [147238]

(2) which RDAs will not be participating in the next round of SRB bids. [147239]

Ms Armstrong

As already announced by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister the Single Regeneration Budget will be brought into the Regional Development Agencies' (RDAs) Single Budget from April 2002. Detailed arrangements for the transitional year 2001–02 are being considered and an announcement will be made very shortly. All RDAs, including SEEDA, will be invited to administer these arrangements.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on meeting the shortfall caused by RDAs overspending on urban regeneration projects. [147237]

Ms Armstrong

There is no reason to believe that any RDA's approved overall budget for 2000–01 is being overspent. I have allocated an extra £60 million of current resources to the RDAs for funding existing Single Regeneration Budget partnerships, but this is met by an equal reduction in SRB capital expenditure.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what budget was allocated for the current financial year by SEEDA for regeneration projects, how much has been spent to date; and how much remains unspent. [147235]

Ms Armstrong

Within South East Development Agency's (SEEDA) approved budget for 2000–01, £67.3 million has been allocated to three main regeneration programmes: Rural Development, Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) and Land and Property. SEEDA reports that £24.0 million has been spent to date leaving up to £43.3 million to be spent, a very large proportion of which is committed.