§ 115. Dr. Goodson-WickesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of the work of the inner city task forces.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggResponsibility for inner city task forces rests with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
The inner city task forces have continued to make good progress in meeting their objectives of securing more jobs and training for local people and encouraging local enterprise. In the financial year 1989–90, task forces committed about £15.5 million—which in turn levered almost £23.5 million from private and public funds—in support of 562 projects. These were expected to generate, or safeguard, over 6,200 jobs, facilitate over 22,000 training places and provide support for 3,584 new and existing businesses. A recent report entitled "Task Forces in Action" outlining progress in individual task forces is available in the Library.
I announced on 28 February, as part of the Government's action for cities anniversary announcements, that the task forces would be withdrawing from Doncaster and Rochdale; and that new task forces would be opening in Derby and the Wirral. I also extended the existing task force in north Kensington into part of the neighbouring borough of Hammersmith and Fulham; it has now been renamed the west London task force.