§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he has taken in the light of the report "Faith in the City" on matters which are the responsibility of his Department subsequent to the action referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey dated 9 December 1986 at c.95.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 5 March 1987]: I had a useful meeting on 10 December 1986 with the bishop of Willesden and other members of the group which is following up the work of the archbishop's commission on urban priority areas. Among other things we discussed the importance of making it easier for people to find rented accommodation. Following the meeting, I provided the group with details of the assured tenancies scheme and amended rules on shorthold and fair rent tenancies, together with information about the new programme run by the Housing Corporation designed to use private money supplemented by 30 per cent. Government grant to provide more rented accommodation, which should provide about £15 million worth of schemes for shared housing for young people moving jobs in London and the south.
My officials are also continuing to discuss with members of the follow-up group questions relating to the methodology of identifying urban areas of need.