§ Lord Hardy of Wathasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the cost of support over the last 10 years for the transformation of the environment and the promotion of economic recovery in those areas seriously affected by colliery closures and what was the average part of the total sum relating to each of the closed collieries.
§ Baroness HaymanThe information is not available in the form requested.
Colliery closure areas have benefited from funding from many government and EU regeneration programmes. In particular, the Urban Programme, City Challenge and the Single Regeneration Budget Challenge fund have made significant contributions to those areas seriously affected by colliery closures.
Funding targeted particularly at former coalfield areas includes £120 million from the EU RECHAR programme, and the previous administration's £200 million package of training, employment and regeneration measures aimed at alleviating the effects of the closures announced in 1992. These projects are expected to generate substantial private sector investment.
In 1996, English Partnerships, the Government's regeneration agency, took over 56 former British Coal sites and has announced a 10 year plan of area-wide regeneration, environmental improvement and long-term job creation. It is expected that this will generate over £1 billion of private finance.
The Deputy Prime Minister has recently set up a Coalfields Task Force to take forward his initiative to help former mining communities in England hit by pit closures. The purpose of the task force is to identify and develop a specific programme of action to assist coal
Average dailyflows Bridge Autumn 1994 Autumn 1995 Autumn 1996 March /997 Putney 55,003 60,263 49,608 70,754 Hammersmith 30.678 29,999 33,591 closed Chiswick 49,715 no data no data 51,352 Source:
Highway Authority one week counts.