§ 75. Mr. Lawlerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department is taking to improve the environment in derelict urban areas.
§ Mr. John PattenWe have increased the resources available for derelict land grant in England from £23.5 million in 1979–80 to £84.4 million in 1986–87, targeting this money on urban and particularly inner city areas. Thirteen rolling programmes totalling over £24 million have been established this year in areas of extensive dereliction to uplift the environment and encourage new private sector activity. We have also increased urban programme resources since 1980 from some £90 million to over £300 million now.
This year alone some £35 million will be spent on environmental improvement to derelict or degraded land in urban areas under this programme. In addition urban development grant of £70 million has been approved since its inception in 1982 which will result in the reuse of some 560 acres of urban land or buildings that were derelict. The hon. Gentleman will also know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently announced the setting up of four further urban development corporations.