§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect the changes to the urban programme will have on voluntary organisations in Lancashire.
§ Mr. Robin SquireCommitments arising from voluntary sector projects approved as part of Blackburn, Burnley and Preston's urban programmes in 1992–93 and previous years will be honoured.
In addition, the urban partnership fund, part of the capital partnership programme which was announced by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment on 13 November 1992, will provide up to £20 million in 1993–94 in uncommitted urban programme resources to support capital and directly linked revenue projects in the 57 urban priority areas. It is open to local authorities to involve voluntary organisations in particular projects.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources have been made available, under the Government's urban programme, to meet the housing needs of Wythenshawe.
670W
Northern region 1992–93 Annual Capital Guideline, Estate Action new and continuation resources, and Energy Efficiency Programme 1991 Local authority stock Allocations per local authority dwelling Local authority £ thousands Number £ Alnwick 2,316 2,556 906 Berwick 470 3,238 145 Blyth Valley 1,891 8,888 213 Castle Morpeth 478 3,600 133 Chester-le-Street 1,254 6,499 193 Darlington 953 7,681 124 Derwentside 5,925 11,201 529 Durham 3,403 9,852 345 Easington 6,685 16,087 416 Gateshead 5,527 31,387 176 Hartlepool 6,368 9,674 658 Langbaurgh on Tees 3,897 14,143 275 Middlesbrough 3,995 15,960 250 Newcastle 16,683 42,201 395 North Tyneside 9,268 24,874 373 Sedgefield 2,027 13,291 152
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe urban programme has offered substantial help with the regeneration of run down private sector housing and local authority estates but it is not the Government's policy that UP resources are used for direct housing investment. The urban programme has complemented other initiatives such as support for environmental improvements and enterprise initiatives on estates benefitting from estate action or equivalent treatment, and to secure benefits for the community as a whole rather than individual households.
This year over £700,000 has been specifically marked from the urban programme for Wythenshawe of which £17,000 is to fund a strategic action plan for the economic regeneration of the Benchill area to complement estate action work. The action plan will recommend a range of measures to improve local resident's access to employment and training.