§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much(a) in total and (b) per council property is to be made available to Hull under his Pathfinder scheme (i) this year and (ii) in each of the next three years; when the money will start to be paid; and whether there has been a delay in payment. [175106]
§ Keith HillAllocation of Housing Market Renewal funding to the Hull and East Riding Market Renewal pathfinder is subject to the pathfinder demonstrating that it has satisfactory arrangements in place to develop a strategic market renewal scheme and to the approval of that scheme once submitted. Following an overhaul by the pathfinder of its governance arrangements and the preparation of a revised work programme, the pathfinder has been informed that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is prepared to enter into a grant agreement that will provide funds to facilitate scheme development.
1770WThe Pathfinder's target date for submission of its strategic scheme is the end of September 2004. Allocation of Housing Market Renewal funding for the scheme, along with the amount and timing of any allocation and the programme of work supported, will be dependent on submission of the scheme and it's subsequent assessment by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and independent scrutiny by the Audit Commission.