Urban Regeneration Agency (Hansard, 13 December 1993)

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations the Urban Regeneration Agency has had with local authorities; and if he will list those authorities.
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§ Mr. Baldry
David Taylor, the chief executive, and his senior staff are undertaking an extensive programme of regional visits to help inform the development of English Partnerships—the Urban Regeneration Agency—strategy. On each visit they have met representatives from several of the region's local authorities. I will ask Mr. Taylor to write to the hon. Member with a list of the local authorities concerned. Mr. Taylor is also about to meet representatives from local authority associations and individual authorities to discuss the development of a unified financing regime for English Partnerships. In addition, my Department has consulted all local authorities on our draft guidance to English Partnerships which was published in August 1993.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment where the Urban Regeneration Agency is to be based.

§ Mr. Baldry
English Partnerships—the Urban Regeneration Agency—will have a strong regional structure including a small London office. Its central administrative functions will be based outside London. Other decisions on the locations of its offices have yet to be taken.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on progress in establishing the Urban Regeneration Agency;
(2) if he will state the budget for 1993–94 and 1994–95 for the Urban Regeneration Agency.

§ Mr. Baldry
The Urban Regeneration Agency, under its new name of English Partnerships, was launched on 10 November. It has taken over from my Department responsibility for the city grant programme with a budget for the remainder of 1993–94 of £34 million. From April 1994, it will incorporate the derelict land grant and English Estates programmes. For 1994–95, English Partnerships will have a budget of around £250 million including grant-in-aid and estimated receipts from its own activities and the European Union.