§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now in a position to make an announcement about an enterprise zone in the non-historic part of the dockyard at Chatham.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerI am keen that the former dockyards should be regenerated by modern development bringing new jobs.
My right hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) announced in the House on 10 May 1983 that statutory invitations had been sent to certain local authorities in north-west Kent to prepare jointly a scheme for an enterprise zone in their areas. He added at that time that consideration would be given to the designation of 671W part of the non-historic dockyard at Chatham as an enterprise zone when it became surplus to defence requirements.
I have received a joint application from Rochester-upon-Medway city council and Gillingham borough council for such a zone. I am pleased to announce my agreement to this subject to satisfactory arrangements being agreed on the boundaries of the zone, the planning regime in the zone and the administrative arrangements to be adopted.
Grant shares 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 Budget Outturn Budget Outturn Budget Outturn Budget Outturn (i) Block grant Shire areas 55.0 55.1 55.0 54.5 54.8 54.8 54.9 53.3 Metropolitan areas 30.3 30.3 30.3 29.8 30.8 30.9 31.4 31.5 London 14.7 14.6 14.7 15.7 14.4 14.6 13.7 15.2 (ii) Rate support grant Shire areas 55.3 55.4 55.3 54.8 55.0 54.8 55.2 53.7 Metropolitan areas 29.5 29.5 29.5 29.0 30.0 30.1 30.5 30.6 London 15.2 15.1 15.2 16.2 15.0 15.1 14.3 15.7