§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the total bids received for section 11 money by London local authorities as of 31 December 1994; what is the total allocated to meet these bids; and when he expects to be able to make a statement.
(2) what representations he has received on the funding of section 11 posts in London local authorities.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerMy right hon. and learned Friend announced on 22 November, column64 that the level of funding on offer was being doubled to around £30 million in each of the next two financial years, and that the deadline date was being extended to 30 December. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I subsequently gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 13 January at columns 250–52, in which I provided information about bids from all authorities.
We are aware from various representations that we have received of concern in a number of local authority areas in London about continued funding under section 11. We are maintaining our target of announcing the results of the bidding round by the end of February.