§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what circumstances a local authority withholds any moneys approved by him under the urban programme; and what action he will take to ensure that moneys approved by him under the urban programme are paid within a reasonable period.
§ Mr. Trippier[holding answer 28 November 1988]: Urban programme grant from my Department reimburses a local authority for expenditure it has incurred on approved urban programme projects. It is therefore the authority's decision whether to fund a new urban programme project, once it has been approved by my Department. I would normally expect a local authority to continue to pay urban programme moneys for an ongoing approved project provided it was satisfied that the moneys are being properly spent.