HC Deb 30 March 1994 vol 240 c843W
Mr. Robert Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was(a) the total money spent, (b) the percentage of that money allocated according to decisions made by Ministers on competitive bids and (c) the percentage of that money allocated according to some statistical measure of need in the last available operational year of (i) safer cities, (ii) section 11 grants, (iii) ethnic minority business initiative and (iv) ethnic minority grant.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Safer Cities estimated out-turn for 1993–94 is £6 million. I am unable to give precise figures until the tendering process for the second phase of safer cities projects is complete. All safer cities projects have been chosen having regard to statistical data on crime rates.

Section 11, Ethnic Minority Business Initiative, Ethnic Minority Grant: In the 1992–93 financial year, £129 million was spent under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, £4 million under ethnic minority grant and £0.4 million under the ethnic minority business initiative. In all instances, grant is allocated to projects approved for funding strictly on the basis of the assessment of particular need identified in an application, and of the objectives and targets set out for addressing that need.