§ Mr. Jacques ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress with the single regeneration budget. [40332]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordProgress with the single regeneration budget has been excellent. Apart from continuing to meet commitments on the programmes which came into the SRB, there have been two rounds of bidding for support for new schemes through the SRB challenge fund. Under the first round, some 200 regeneration schemes were approved which, over their lifetime of up to seven years from April 1995, stand to receive over £1 billion in challenge fund support. This in turn will attract an estimated £1.8 billion in private investment. It is intended that decisions on the second round, for schemes starting from April 1996, will be made by Christmas.
§ Ms EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when local authorities will be informed about whether their single regeneration bids have succeeded in getting Government funding. [40355]
§ Mr. TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when local authorities will be informed about whether their single regeneration bids have succeeded in getting Government funding. [40350]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordIt is intended that local authorities and other bidders for support from the second round of the single regeneration budget challenge fund will be informed whether their bids have succeeded by Christmas.