HC Deb 09 December 1994 vol 251 cc381-2W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his statement of 6 December on the single regulation budget,(a) over how many years the total sum is to be spread, and how much in each year, (b) how much of the sum announced is top-sliced from other programmes, (c) how much of the sum announced is new money and (d) how any money will be paid; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Curry

As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Dicks) on 5 December,Official Report column 9–10, the resources available for projects successful in the first bidding round of the single regeneration budget (SRB) have been increased by £25 million in each of the three years 1995–96 to 1997–98.

This brings the proposed funding for the 201 successful bids, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 6 December, to £125 million in 1995–96 and to £225 million in both 1996–97 and 1997–98. The 201 successful bids are planned to have lifetimes varying from one to seven years. Over their lifetime they are expected to receive total SRB funding of some £1.1 billion, subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of resources.

A second bidding round will be launched next year and will build up to a full spend of £200 million in 1997–98, with £40 million available in 1996–97 for early funding of successful projects.

The resources—more than £800 million in SRB funding over the next three years—for new projects are being released from the provision for programmes which combined to form the SRB, as existing commitments are fulfilled.

Government offices for the regions will be in touch with the successful bidders about arrangements for payment of the agreed funding. Successful partnerships have been informed that approval is subject to agreement of delivery plans and that the continuation of funding will be dependent on achievement of outputs and milestones identified in those plans.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of Slate for the Environment what criteria he uses to select successful bids for funds from the single regeneration budget.

Mr. Curry

The criteria used to select successful bids under the single regeneration budget are set out in the bidding guidance issued on 14 April. Copies are in the Library of the House.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many single regeneration budget bids were submitted from the north-west.

Mr. Curry

The Government office for the north-west received 56 bids for funding from the single regeneration budget.