§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will exercise flexibility in applying during the current financial year the criteria governing distribution of urban programme funding to economic, environmental and social projects, and between capital and current projects when he considers applications for funding of projects in the voluntary sector in Southwark; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TraceyAny further bids in the current financial year will be considered on their merits against Ministerial guidelines.
In considering the bids put forward by Southwark for urban programme funding in 1987–88, all existing commitments to voluntary sector projects approved under the traditional urban programme will be honoured. New projects in 1987–88 will have to comply with guidelines which emphasise the importance of capital, economic and environmental schemes. Nevertheless, the new Programme Authority status of Southwark means that the level of resources available for new projects in 1987–88 from the voluntary sector is likely to be higher than this year.