HC Deb 26 February 1986 vol 92 c559W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the places in Manchester he visited on 10 February; and which Members of Parliament were advised of the details of this visit in advance.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

On 10 February I began my visit to Manchester at the regional office of the Manpower Services Commission for a meeting with members of the city action team. I then had discussions with the leader of Manchester city council, Councillor Stringer, and then visited the Moss Side link programme. My visit ended with the churches work scheme in Moss Side.

The right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Kaufman), and the hon. Members for Manchester, Central (Mr. Litherland), and for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) were all informed of my visit in advance, and the hon. Member for Manchester, Central was also given details of my programme.

Mr. Lloyd

asked the Paymaster General why he chose the title Moss Side-Lloyd street for the area of Manchester involved in the recent announcement of inner cities; how much of this area he expects to lie outside the Stretford constituency; what information he provided to hon. Members about this project; to which hon. Members and when.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We identified the area in Manchester we had in mind for the pilot initiative in these general terms because we based our choice on the 1981 census wards of Moss Side and Lloyd street. A significant part of these wards lies outside Stretford constituency. however, I will take final decisions on the precise boundaries of this and the other pilot areas only after further local consultation.

I wrote to the hon. members most concerned with details of the initiative on 6 February. I apologise for the fact that due to an oversight I did not write to the hon. Member until 17 February.