§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress that has been made on interdepartmental co-ordination on initiatives aimed at urban regeneration. [139185]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Deputy Prime Minister announced the White Paper "Our Towns and Cities: The Future Delivering an Urban Renaissance" on 16 November. We are creating a new focus for urban issues at the centre of Government by setting up a Cabinet Committee on Urban Affairs to co-ordinate the Government's policies affecting urban areas and to oversee follow-up to the White Paper. It will consist of all Departments that have an interest in urban issues. The Committee will prepare for an Urban Summit, to consider progress, in 2002. We will also publish a new "State of the Cities Report" in 2005. These will all assist interdepartmental co-ordination of urban issues.