§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will specify the role and remit of local partnerships. [6578]
§ Mr. CurryLocal partnerships play a key role in promoting economic, environmental and social regeneration. A range of Government policies and programmes is specifically directed to support local partnerships. These programmes include the single regeneration budget challenge fund. Over 370 schemes involving local partnerships have been approved under rounds 1 and 2 of the challenge fund. These schemes stand to attract sonic £2 billion in challenge fund support and £5 billion in private investment over their lifetime of up to seven years. Rounds 3 and 4 of the challenge fund. for schemes starting in 1997 and 1998 respectively, were announced in the Budget statement. Apart from the challenge fund. the partnership approach is central to, for example. initiatives supported by training and enterprise councils. English Partnerships and European structural funds.