§ Keith VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to reduce the extent of segregation between richer and poorer communities within UK cities. [87007]
§ Beverley HughesThe Home Office plays a key role in the delivery of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. One of the key long term aims of the strategy is to narrow the gap between the most deprived areas and the rest of the country. The Home Office intends to meet this aim through the activities and programmes it is putting in place to meet its own floor target to
reduce crime and the fear of crime; improve performance overall, including by reducing the gap between the highest Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership areas and the best comparable areas; and reduce:The Community Cohesion Unit (CCU) and Race Equality Unit in the Home Office work closely with the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (NRU) and the Urban Policy Unit on community cohesion and faith issues. For example, the CCU and NRU are jointly funding a two year Community Cohesion Pathfinders programme launched by myself in October. The programme will target 15 local authority areas—providing funding for the local authority, voluntary and community sector and (through the community champions scheme) for individuals in the locality. Bids are due in January.
- —vehicle crime by 30 per cent from 1998–99 to 2004
- —domestic burglary by 25 per cent from 1998–99 to 2005
- —robbery in the 10 Street Crime Initiative areas by 14 per cent from 1999–2000 to 2005; and maintain that level".
The Home Office is developing an action plan to put in place recommendations made in a Social Exclusion Unit report on ex-offenders published in July.
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