§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made with replacing partnership investment programme funding ended under European state aid laws. [5942]
§ Ms KeebleSubstantial progress has been made on the replacement of the Partnership Investment Programme (PIP). The European Commission have approved five new land and property regeneration schemes which partially replace PIP. The schemes cover speculative and non-speculative gap funding, community regeneration, direct development, and environmental regeneration. Regional Development Agencies and English Partnerships are now able to support a wide range of land and property regeneration projects, including projects which can be taken forward in partnership with the private sector.
Negotiations are continuing with the European Commission over the possibility of a new regeneration framework under which state aid would be permitted for the regeneration of derelict, disused and contaminated land suffering from market failure throughout the European Community. In addition, we are liaising with other member states who are also interested in this subject.