§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy on public open space in
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£ Nature of funding 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–021 Revenue Support Grant2 176,612,000 181,475,000 192,015,000 193,464,000 205,566,000 Income from national Non-Domestic Rates2 50,648,000 52,327,000 56,862,000 64,389,000 63,936,000 Housing Investment Programme 20,129,000 27,752,000 29,229,000 45,946.000 52,921,000 Housing Revenue Account Subsidy 130,861,916 122,044,327 115,504,573 3117,290,559 n/k Capital Receipts Initiative 3,224,337 11,386,000 12,088,000 n/a n/a Cash Incentive Scheme 3,253,000 2,029,000 n/a n/a n/a SRB Funding 15,979,290 16,105,921 11,868,091 10,017,991 46,865,558 New Deal for Communities Funding n/a 13,050 545,024 367,218 1,509,623 Neighbourhood Renewal Funding n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,978,000 Transport Supplementary Grant 325,000 279,000 230,000 0 — Transport Annual Capital Guideline 325,000 279,000 230,000 0 — Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval 2,141,000 2,536,000 3,409,000 51,996,000 n/k Capital Challenge (Supplementary Credit and Basic Credit Approvals) 1,983,000 4,182,000 4,195,000 n/a n/a 1 Where known 2The figures for all Settlements prior to 2001–02 are unadjusted for transfers of services. Authorities are responsible for a slightly different mix of services this year compared to previous years. Consequently a comparison based on last year's actual grant figure would not form the basis of an accurate comparison. 3Provisional figures 4Projected 5As at 28 March 2001 inner-city areas; and if he has decided to call in the extension of a bus depot on to public open space at Stalyford, Newcastle. [156468]
§ Ms ArmstrongThe Government believe that everyone should have access to good quality open space close to where they live, and attach high importance to their retention in urban areas. Our Urban White Paper: "Our Towns and Cities: The Future" sets out a range of measures for improving the quality of urban parks and green spaces, including the setting up of the Urban Green Spaces Taskforce. On 21 March we issued, for consultation, "Revised Planning Policy Guidance note 17: Sports, Open Space and Recreation." The guidance provides a clearer framework for improving provision of open spaces and ensuring such spaces are better protected from development.
No decision has been taken in relation to the application to extend the bus depot in Stalyford, Newcastle.