Mr. John M. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response was received to the consultation document on the Government's proposal to introduce the new city grant for inner city projects.
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§ Mr. TrippierThe responses to the consultation document which was issued by the Department on city grant on 7 March to local authorities, businesses and other interested persons and organisations was extremely encouraging. The proposal to simplify the grants system and speed up the handling of cases were warmly welcomed by the great majority of respondents.
A short summary of the written responses received has been placed today in the Libraries of the Houses of Parliament and, where respondents have explicitly authorised the Department to do so, copies of their responses have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
City grant will now operate in broadly the way proposed in the consultation document with a threshold of £200,000 project value. Copies of the guidance notes have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.