HC Deb 22 May 1997 vol 294 cc152-3W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans for Round 3 of the Single Regeneration Budget. [800]

Mr. Caborn

The Government is strongly committed to the regeneration of cities and other areas. It will honour commitments on Round 3 and earlier rounds of the Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund, subject to satisfactory performance by the schemes supported and the availability of resources.

Guidance for the fourth round as issued in March by the previous administration and potential bidders are already working up proposals. The Government does not wish to stop this work. It wishes to ensure, however, that those preparing proposals are given the clearest possible guidance on the Government's policies and priorities. It will therefore issue shortly supplementary guidance, the key elements of which will be:

  1. (a) a requirement that proposals contribute to the Government's Manifesto commitment to carry out a concerted attack against the multiple causes of social and economic decline, and fit with its new policies, including those relating to employment, crime and housing;
  2. (b) a greater emphasis on tackling the needs of communities in the most deprived areas;
    3. 153
  3. (c) a requirement that proposals should take account of existing strategies for promoting economic development and tackling deprivation, such as economic development strategies prepared by local authorities, and fit with the Government's policy on regional governance.

In addition, the Government considers that there should be a more collaborative approach between those preparing proposals, their partners and Government Offices for the Regions in order to arrive at a shared understanding of regeneration needs and priorities, and to stimulate fresh thinking. To facilitate this sort of exchange, the Government has decided that the deadline for submission of initial proposals be shifted from 27 June 1997 to 26 September 1997. It nonetheless expects those working up proposals to be in touch with the appropriate Government Office for the Region well before this revised deadline.