§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he will announce successors to the Partnership Investment Programme; [144338]
487W(2) what new regeneration frameworks are under discussion with the EU Commission for permitting state aid for the physical regeneration of derelict and disused sites throughout England; [144303]
(3) what publicly funded urban regeneration programmes have not been able to go ahead after the cancellation of the Partnership Investment Programme; [144387]
(4) what urban regeneration projects by English Partnerships have been cancelled after the ending of partnerships investment programme funding under EU rules; what arguments were put to the EU Commission in defence of the partnerships investment programme; and what assessment he has made of the prospects of the partnerships investment programme being allowed to continue under EU rules; [144302]
(5) which other EU member states are supporting Her Majesty's Government's discussions to reverse the decision ending the Partnerships Investment Programme; [144305]
(6) what discussions are taking place with the EU Commission about alternatives to the partnerships investment programme. [144304]
§ Ms Beverley HughesI refer the hon. Member to the Government's response1 to the 16th report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee report and the subsequent debate on the Select Committee's report, which took place in the House of Commons on 19 December 2000.
The Government are not involved in any discussions to reverse the decision ending the Partnership Investment Programme (PIP). The closure of PIP has not prevented other publicly funded urban regeneration programmes from going ahead.
1 The Government's response to the Environment. Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee Report on the Implications of the European Commission Ruling on Gap Funding Schemes for Urban Regeneration in England. Command Paper 4923 published on 11 December 2000.