§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of urban aid.
§ Mr. King[pursuant to his reply, 28 March 1980, c. 715]: In his statement of 14 September, my right hon. Friend 202W explained the importance which the Government attach to maintaining priority for inner city areas and the decision to maintain urban aid for 1980–81 at the same level in real terms as in 1979–80. That commitment remains unaltered. We have, however, recently issued a consultation document discussing the future of the "traditional" urban programme of small schemes, which sets out a range of possible options for the future, including recasting or even ending that part of the urban programme. We will be taking decisions in the light of comments we receive.