§ Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the, Regions if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Blackpool, South constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [142233]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe constituency of Blackpool, South has benefited from a range of Government initiatives since 2 May 1997 including:
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Capital allocations for housing Year £million 1997–98 2.880 1998–991 4.803 1999–2000 4.946 2000–01 7.204 2001–02 8.314 1 Including Capital Receipts Initiative The resources made available from Government to support the authority's housing capital investment programme will have nearly trebled by next year since the Government came to power.
Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
Blackpool will receive about £6.016 million over the next three years as part of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund announced in October. The fund will help local authorities meet their Public Service Agreement targets in areas such as raising schools standards, and reducing unemployment—reducing burglary, narrowing the health gap between deprived areas and the rest of the country and improving the standard of social housing.
Single Regeneration Budget
SRB Round 2—Blackpool Challenge Partnership
This is a seven-year strategy to halt decline of an area of need in the town centre behind the promenade. This scheme is linked to the opportunity to create employment parks. SRB total is £19.4 million.
SRB Round 6—Blackpool Challenge Partnership
This seven-year scheme was approved on 2 August 2000 and the programme will start in April 2001. This scheme links support for growth of the tourist industry and improving the quality of life for Blackpool's most deprived communities. It was allocated £20 million SRB funding.
This schemes covers the wider Blackpool, South area.
Blackpool Foyer
Non-delegated project (ie SRB Grant request over £250k). This fits in with Blackpool Challenge Partnership SRB by way of and linked allied to the First Step Centre (vocational guidance). This project is part of the National network of Foyers in the UK and Europe and is a full member of the National Foyer Federation for Youth.
Project costs—£3,488 million total costs over six years. SRB Support of £0.45 million (13 per cent.) over five years—1997–2003. Contribution of £1.038 million (30 per cent.) Housing Corporation, £0.77 million Manchester Methodist Housing Association (contracting organisation), £0.65 million private and £0.586 million revenue (rental income).
Local Transport Plans Year £million 1997–981 9.5 1998–99 0.383 1999–2000 0.862 2000–01 2.168 2001–02 2— 1 This figure is for Lancashire County Council before Blackpool became an Unitary Authority. Of the £9.5 million, £240k was allocated specifically for the Blackpool tramway, although other money would have gone into Blackpool. 2 Figure not yet available Note:
All other figures are for the whole of Blackpool.
Local Government Finance Settlement
The following figures show the Government Grant to Blackpool as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement.
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Total external support (Revenue Support Grant, National non-Domestic Rates and damping grants) Year £ million 1997–98 15.646 1998–99 93.226 1999–2000 97.219 2000–01 102.542 2001–021 105.307 1 Provisional settlement under "floor" and "ceiling" option. Note:
Again the difference in figures of 1997–98 is due to the unitary authority in 1999.