Coalfields Regeneration (Hansard, 7 December 1998)

§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money from the new Coalfields Regeneration Trust Fund40W will be allocated to projects in the County of Nottinghamshire; and what size of bodies will be able to apply for funding for such projects. [62637]

§ Mr. Caborn
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust will have the power to assist former and existing coalfields such as those in the County of Nottinghamshire. Legal work is underway to set up the Trust which is expected to be up and running early next year. It will be independent from Government and therefore allocation of resources available to the Trust will be the responsibility of the Trustees.

§ Mr. Grogan
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if existing coalfield areas will be eligible for assistance and grants from the new Coalfields Regeneration Trust. [62688]

§ Mr. Caborn
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust will have the power to assist former and existing coalfields that have regeneration requirements. Legal work is underway to set up the Trust which is expected to be up and running early next year. It will be independent from Government and therefore allocation of resources available to the Trust will be the responsibility of the Trustees.

§ Mr. Wigley
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of the £350 million fund for the coalfield communities in England is new money over and above existing spending programmes; and how much emanates from(a) the Coal Miners Pension Fund, (b) general Government sources, (c) the European Union and (d) private or other sources. [62397]

§ Mr. Caborn
The Government are investing an additional £354 million over three years in regenerating coalfield communities. All that money will come from 'general government sources' including: dedicated allocations from existing spending programmes; an additional £10 million from the Reserve in recognition of the receipt of Government's share of miners' pension funds surpluses, part of which will be available to Scotland and Wales; and £10 million from the Reserve to support the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in complementing the Government's Welfare to Work programme.
A fuller breakdown of this additional investment is set out in the Government's publication 'Making the Difference—a New Start for England's Coalfield Communities; The Government's Response to the Coalfield Task Force Report'. A copy of this publication is available in the House Library.