HC Deb 20 April 2000 vol 348 cc620-1W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will introduce new arrangements for providing funds to deprived communities to tackle social exclusion that do not rely on matched funding from the communities concerned: and if she will make a statement. [119577]

Marjorie Mowlam

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister launched consultation on 12 April on the Social Exclusion Unit's framework National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal. This includes analysis of the obstacles to securing funding in deprived communities and proposals to overcome them.

In addition, this Government have already committed £800 million over 10 years to the New Deal for Communities programme which is being used to regenerate some of England's poorest neighbourhoods.