HC Deb 21 March 1979 vol 964 cc623-5W
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public money has so far been spent or committed on industrial projects in each city under the inner city construction programme.

Mr. Guy Barnett

The amounts of Government grant aid for industrial projects so far spent in each city under the inner city construction package are listed below. This is less than half the total amount committed.

Amount of grant paid by end of December 1978
£000
Authority
Brent 0
Camden 135
Greenwich 435
Hackney 175
Haringey 26
Hammersmith 0
Islington 1,115
Kensington/Chelsea 5
Lambeth 101
Lewisham 404
Newham 270
Southwark 470
Tower Hamlets Not available
Wandsworth 406
GLC 27
Birmingham 1,087
Bradford 140
Bristol 283
Coventry 13
Derby 17
Dudley 2
Gateshead 516
Greater Manchester CC 353
Hull Not available
Kirklees 2
Leeds 513
Leicster 98
Liverpool 1,436
Manchester 738
Mersey CC 0
Middlesbrough 127
Newcastle 173
North Tyneside 0
Nottingham 342
Oldham 191
Portsmouth 0
Rochdale 1
Salford 882
Sandwell 116
St. Helens 0
Sefton 25
Sheffield 270
Southampton 111
South Tyneside 0
Sunderland 111
Tameside 93
Trafford 180
Tyne and Wear CC 93
Walsall 146
West Midlands CC 442
Wirral Not available
Wolverhampton 328
12,397

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have obtained statutory powers to make grants for industrial development and engage in advance factory building.

Mr. Guy Barnett

All local authorities have powers under the Local Authorities (Land) Act 1963 to develop land and to erect buildings. Some authorities have inherited additional powers under private legislation promoted by their predecessors, including the power to make grants for industrial development. Local legislation enacted before reorganisation ceases to have effect in 1979 in the metropolitan counties and in 1984 in the non-metropolitan counties. A number of authorities are promoting Bills to rationalise the powers acquired from their predecessor authorities and two such measures, the Tyne and Wear Act 1976 and the County of South Glamorgan Act 1976, include provision enabling the authorities concerned to make grants for industrial purposes.