Simplified Planning Zones (Hansard, 12 December 1986)

§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I understand that my hon. Friend is referring to the Government's inner cities initiative. The principal aim of the initiative is to encourage enterprise and employment in the inner city. A growing number of steps are being taken, many of them piloting new approaches to the employment problems of residents. Among these, as examples only are—support by our inner city task force for 50 projects to date, committing £2.2 million, including, training and enterprise training, employment of local labour, help towards the purchase and refurbishment of community facilities, support for ethnic minority enterprise, support for community groups, help with consultancy services and fostering of schools/industry links. —improved co-ordination between different Departments of Government in delivering national programmes in inner city areas which produced, for example, the recent £1.5 million contract in Handsworth, Birmingham, combining physical refurbishment of housing with employment and training for local residents. —discussions which I have with the insurance industry to help tackle the insurance problems faced by some inner city businesses, with the result that I announced on 29 October the setting up of inner city insurance contact points manned by staff from the Association of British Insurers. — discussions which I am having with the banks to encourage the development of their services to inner city business, including the better provision of loan finance. —agreement by the Manpower Services Commission to review the operation of its programme in the inner city areas so that it can better meet the employment needs of people living there, including close liaison between the Commission's officials and task force leaders.

I am confident that these efforts will address our aim of generating employment in the inner city, encouraging the enterprise of people living there, and making the inner city a better place to do business in.