§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will respond to the bids for resources from the market renewal pathfinders; and if he will make a statement. [142994]
§ Keith HillThe nine market renewal pathfinders are each required to submit a strategic scheme to outline their proposals on how they plan to spend the Housing Market Renewal fund that they are bidding for and address the issues of low demand. These schemes are assessed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in negotiation with the pathfinder and independently scrutinised by the Audit. Following successful negotiations and a satisfactory report from the Audit Commission the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will allocate a proportion of the Housing Market Renewal Fund to a scheme.
£125 million has already been allocated to the Manchester Salford pathfinder for implementation of its scheme over the next two and a half years. Strategic schemes from two other pathfinders, Newcastle Gateshead and Merseyside, have been received and are being assessed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Audit Commission. Others are expected over the next few months.