§ Mr. AshtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that English Partnerships may break up the portfolio of redundant coalfield sites it is seeking to transfer from British Coal in cases where prospective developers of new industry and jobs are otherwise seriously delayed. [38664]
§ Sir Paul Beresford[holding answer 22 July 1996]: The transfer of the portfolio depends upon the creation of 319W a balanced package of assets and liabilities. Singling out individual sites could disturb such a balance.
§ Mr. AshtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what factors have led to the delays in transferring 80 sites from British Coal to English Partnerships; how many of these are in enterprise zones in Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire; what is the approximate total value of the sites; and when he expects these transfers to be completed. [38665]
§ Sir Paul Beresford[holding answer 22 July 1996]: Acquisition of a complete package totalling 2,700 hectares must be based on an independent assessment of the values and all associated liabilities. English Partnerships has, rightly, been concerned to satisfy itself that the assumptions made by British Coal were sound. Two of the individual sites are located in the Nottingham and Yorkshire enterprise zones. The value of individual sites depends on the terms of an overall transfer.
§ Mr. AshtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his letter of July if he will make it his policy to ensure that English Partnerships agency has enough resources to transfer and process the priority sites at Manton Wood, Worksop, Nottinghamshire from British Coal to prospective factory developers. [38663]
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§ Sir Paul Beresford[holding answer 22 July 1996]: The use of English Partnerships' resources is a matter for the agency. It would not agree to take on the British Coal portfolio unless it was confident that it had the resources to tackle the priority sites.
§ Mr. AshtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend the 10-year benefits of enterprise zone status in coal mining areas to 11 years in cases where there have been serious delays by British Coal in transferring sites to English Partnerships. [38662]
§ Sir Paul Beresford[holding answer 22 July 1996]: All enterprise zones have been designated for a period of 10 years.
§ Mr. AshtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he gives to prospective factory developers who wish to move to enterprise zones and consequently sell their existing premises but find that enterprise zones cannot operate because British Coal and English Partnerships have not agreed on the transfer of the land. [38661]
§ Sir Paul Beresford[holding answer 22 July 1996]: I would advise prospective developers to ensure that suitable premises to relocate are identified before existing premises are sold.