HC Deb 04 February 1982 vol 17 cc175-6W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent official visit to Merseyside.

Mr. Heseltine

During my visit to Merseyside on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 January I had meetings with members of the Merseyside task force, a large number of organisations from the Liverpool 8 area, senior police officers, and with councillors and officials from the Liverpool city council. I was accompanied for much of the visit by my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison) the Minister of State, Home Office, and my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Macfarlane) the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment with special responsibility for sport.

Mr. Steen

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what progress was made at the series of working meetings he held in Merseyside on 28 and 29 January; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will list the series of working meetings he held on Merseyside on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 January.

Mr. Heseltine

I met members of the Merseyside task force to discuss current activities and progress on the initiatives I announced on 5 August last year; members of the Merseyside Development Corporation with whom I discussed plans for the national garden festival on Merseyside; staff, students and private sector sponsors of the new Birkenhead commercial business training centre, one of three such centres to be established on Merseyside last month; and representatives of local authorities and industry. I also visited the Anglican cathedral precinct in Liverpool where I announced a developer-architect open competition for development of the cathedral site.