§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities received allocations under the traditional urban programme for each year since 1978–79.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe information is as follows:
Authorities receiving main phase approvals Number 1978–79 88 1979–80 119 1980–81 111 1981–82 145 1982–83 167 1983–84 163 1984–85 134 1985–86 106 The total for 1978–79 and 1979–80 includes allocations to nine partnership and 15 programme authorities which in later years became ineligible for approvals through the traditional urban programme. A further eight authorities became ineligible in 1984–85 following their promotion to programme authority status.
§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes for the traditional urban programme for 1986–87; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe limited resources available under the traditional urban programme will continue to be concentrated on fewer authorities. In these circumstances, my right hon. Friend does not consider that it is any longer appropriate to issue a general circular inviting new bids. Instead, we will be putting to the local authority associations proposals for issuing invitations to specific local authorities.