§ Mr. Patrick Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when further applications for urban development grants may be submitted.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinThe urban development grant has been successful in encouraging the private sector to bring forward investment projects in inner urban areas. A 177W proportion of the resources allocated to the urban and derelict land expenditure block will continue to be available for grants towards such projects.
As indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Norris) on 21 July last year at c. 236–7 authorities were invited to submit applications for projects intended to commence by the financial year 1984–85 at any time during the period from 31 July 1983 to 31 January 1984. I intend now to move to a continuous bidding system under which local authorities will be able to submit applications throughout the year. For the purpose, however, of allocating money, applications will be grouped depending on whether they are received in the periods ending on 31 January, 30 April, and 31 October.
178WPriority will continue to be given to the appraisal of fully worked up and documented schemes were private sector participants and funding sources have been identified. Among such schemes, priority will be given to schemes submitted in earlier periods.
In the allocation of money for urban development grant, I shall continue to give priority to those urban areas with serious social needs, and invitations to submit further applications are again being sent to those local authorities in England which have been designated under the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978 or which have enterprise zones within their areas. Applications may be made by other authorities but will be considered in the light of this priority.