§ Mr. Lawlerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when an announcement will be forthcoming 423W on the selection of an inner-city area for a pilot scheme allowing the injection of public resources to attract private sector investment; and if Bradford is still on the short-list.
§ Sir George YoungPart III of the Housing and Planning Bill empowers the Secretary of State to provide financial assistance to persons who incur expenditure in the course of activities which will contribute to urban regeneration. It is my right hon. Friend's intention, subject to the approval of the Bill by Parliament, initially to use part III in a limited number of localities to support regeneration programmes carried out by the private sector. No decisions have yet been taken on where the power will be used. But we would expect to give priority to localities where there are substantial areas containing derelict or disused land and buildings and where there is a willingness on the part of private sector interests to undertake the task of regeneration.