HC Deb 20 April 1988 vol 131 c490W
Mr. Boyes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions are in existence to ensure that employment opportunities are made available to local residents in those areas where urban development corporations have been established.

Mr. Trippier

All urban development corporations see the creation of employment opportunities for those who live in and around their areas as an important part of their work. Each makes provision which seems appropriate to its circumstances.

Mr. Boyes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each urban development corporation the percentage change in unemployment that has been realised since their establishment.

Mr. Trippier

Unemployment statistics are not available specifically for the areas of urban development corporations, although certain surveys have been carried out in Merseyside and London docklands. The Department of the Environment, the Manpower Services Commission and the corporations themselves have recently presented evidence on this complex subject to the Employment Committee. This will be published in due course, but in the meantime I refer the hon. Member to the uncorrected proofs which have been placed in the Library.

Mr. Boyes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each urban development corporation the percentage and real term increase in value of property for sale and lease since their inception.

Mr. Trippier

Property values vary widely within each urban development corporation's area. There is no single measure of property values in each area currently available. The answer I gave the hon. Member on March 22, at column55, may be helpful in indicating current values in the areas of the first two corporations, the range of those values and the factors which influence them.