HC Deb 22 October 1976 vol 917 cc563-5W
Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were employed by the Community Development Project; and how many of that total worked in its information and intelligence unit.

Mr. John

Each of the 12 local community development projects had an initial authorised complement of six, plus secretarial and clerical support, and each employed additional staff, often on a part-time basis, for specific social action or research tasks. It is not possible without disproportionate cost to give the total number of additional staff employed from time to time. At the time of its closure on 30th September 1976 the information and intelligence unit employed five full-time staff.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the activities of the Community Development Project; and what reports were published by its information and intelligence unit since its inception in 1969.

Mr. John

The Community Development Project is a programme of action-research based in areas of special social need in England, Scotland and Wales. Its general purpose is to develop a better understanding of the conditions of those living in the older urban areas and to explore new ways of meeting their needs. The following reports have been published by the information and intelligence unit:

  • Inter-Project Report (February 1974).
  • Forward Plan (May 1975).
  • Rates of Decline (January 1975).
  • Poverty of the Improvement Programme (July 1975).
  • Local Government Becomes Big Business (September 1975).
  • Cutting the Welfare State (Who Profits) (November 1975).
  • Whatever Happened to Council Housing? (April 1976).
  • Profits Against Houses (September 1976).

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies of the report of the Community Development Project entitled "Profits Against Houses" have been printed; what was the overall cost: and what income has been received from sales up to the present date.

Mr. John

5,000 copies were printed at a cost of about £2,000. It is estimated that up to 18th October approximately 950 copies had been sold. Net receipts from these sales are expected to be about £360.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to public funds of the Community Development Project in the last 12 months of its operation; and what sums of public money were made available to it since its inception.

Mr. John

Expenditure in the financial year 1975–76 on the Community Development projects in England and Wales, excluding expenditure on social action projects and central support activity, is estimated at £492,000; expenditure from the inception to the end of the project is estimated at £2.2 million.