§ Mr. Brandon-BravoTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the city challenge initiative.
§ Mr. KeyMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched the first round of city challenge in May 1991 and invited 15 local authorities to submit bids for resources for 1992–93. Bids for 11 areas were successful in the competition and, subject to satisfactory implementation of action plans and the availability of resources, each area will be allocated £37.5 million in city challenge resources over five years.
The first of the 11 action plans, for the Sneinton and St Ann's area of Nottingham, was formally approved on 74W 17 February. It is hoped that the remaining plans, for areas of Manchester, Liverpool, Wirral, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Wolverhampton, Bradford, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets and Dearne Valley, will receive final approval shortly.
My right hon. Friend announced today that for the second round of city challenge, starting in 1993–94, all 57 local authorities currently in the urban programme will be invited to bid for city challenge resources.
My right hon. Friend intends to make resources available for 20 winning areas. Again they should each benefit from funding for some £37.5 million over the five years of their action plan. These 20 winning areas will be in addition to the 11 which were successful in the first round of city challenge.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities he expects to be awarded city challenge money in the next round of competition; and on what date he will announce the winners.
§ Mr. PortilloI refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key), to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Brandon-Bravo).