§ 40. Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in shifting the balance of new development from new town green field sites to the inner cities; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe new town development programme is nearing completion. The Government have taken a number of important initiatives designed to encourage development in the inner cities. The urban development grant scheme is designed to promote economic and physical regeneration by supporting private investment. Enterprise zones have been designed to stimulate the economy by relaxing planning restrictions and giving freedom from rates. Urban development commissions are bringing about development in Merseyside and London docklands. Land registers have identified publicly owned sites suitable for development. By all these methods we aim to encourage the regeneration of the inner cities and to promote the re-use of neglected or under-used land in urban areas.