§ Mr. PatnickTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Government initiatives have been taken since 1979 to deal with urban dereliction and inner-city decay in Sheffield, by means of encouraging development and raising business confidence; if he will list them, indicating the amounts expended under each heading; if he will also indicate any grants available which were not taken up; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeSince 1979, the Government have developed a range of initiatives to deal with urban dereliction and inner-city decay by encouraging development and raising business confidence, as I outlined in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Staffordshire (Mr. Heddle) on 19 January 1988,Official Report, columns 598–600.
The following table gives details of the initiatives which have been undertaken in Sheffield since 1979 and the level of Government support:
£ million Urban Programme 38.0 Urban Development Grant 0.9 Derelict Land Grant 1.3 Estate Action 1.1 European Regional Development Fund 23.1 Regional Selective Assistance 9.2 Business Improvement Scheme 1.7 Industrial Development Act 3.0 In addition, the Government have given support under various schemes to assist local enterprise and innovation through the Sheffield enterprise agency and joint ventures with the private sector.
We have directed over £75 million towards these initiatives in Sheffield since 1979, which represents a substantial commitment to the area. There has been an increasing level of interest and take-up across the range of initiatives available to encourage development and raise business confidence.