§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why his Department has turned down new area caretaker projects in Handsworth, Birmingham.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 16 June 1986]: The concept of area caretakers has now been established in Birmingham for over 10 years during which time the inner city partnership has supported 24 projects, five of which have been in Handsworth. However, the concept can no longer be considered experimental or new; and in 1985 it was agreed between my Department and Birmingham city council that the local authority's main programme was a more appropriate source of long-term, 503W secure funding. It is for the city of Birmingham, through it's own resources or those of other sponsors, to fund further area caretaker schemes.