Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to support the London Development Agency in 2000–01. [128440]
§ Mr. HillParliamentary approval for making grants to this Agency, which is to be an executive body working with the Mayor for London, is being sought in a Summer Supplementary Estimate for Housing, construction regeneration, regional policy, planning and countryside and wildlife Vote (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Class III, Vote 1). Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £7 million will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.
The Agency has the same statutory purposes as the regional Development Agencies in the rest of England. The status of the Agency is described in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' Annual Report 2000. Financial provision for predecessor bodies was made in the Main Estimates 2000–01, so this 507W announcement will not add to the total of public expenditure. The Ambit of the Supplementary Estimate will, however, clearly identify the Agency.