§ Mr. Welshasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what funds are available to the Urban Renewal Unit;
(2) what areas and lines of research will be undertaken by the Urban Renewal Unit;
(3) what are the numbers and grades of staff who comprise the Urban Renewal Unit; and where they will be based.
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§ Mr. William RossI set up the Urban Renewal Unit to focus advice to me on the formulation of policies and to provide guidance ad advice generally on urban renewal questions, including questions of resource allocation to deprived areas. At present the unit does not itself administer funds. It will also provide advice and a co-ordinated response to local authority proposals for comprehensive schemes in deprived areas. It will undertake or commission relevant research.
The unit comprises five full-time staff—including two senior administrative officers—based in Edinburgh. It also calls as necessary on the resources of a wide range of professional advisers throughout the Scottish Office.