§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if education projects with particular reference to the teaching of English to children of New Commonwealth origin are eligible as bids under the single regeneration budget; for how many such bids he has made provision; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 27 June 1994]: The single regeneration budget encourages local partnerships to come 494W forward with bids that reflect the needs of their areas and which meet the SRB objectives. These objectives embrace proposals which "promote initiatives of benefit to ethnic minorities" and which "enhance the employment prospects, education and skills of local people, particularly the young and those at a disadvantage, and promote equality of opportunity". It is for local partnerships to decide what their local priorities are and to say how these fit within the strategic approach to regeneration which the SRB bidding guidance requires.
On present estimates some £100 million will be available nationally in 1995–96 to support new local bids.