§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of research undertaken in his Department in the renewal areas; what changes have occurred in respect of work priorities in these areas as a consequence of the research; and when he expects to publish the research report. [12077]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe research has now been completed and we are expecting the contractor to deliver a final version of the report at the end of this month. A decision will then be taken about its publication and the form of any further guidance that the Department might produce.
The 10 local authorities selected as case studies have been informed of the contractor's findings. It is up to each individual authority to decide whether its work priorities towards its renewal areas should change as a consequence of the research.