Regeneration (West Midlands) (Hansard, 13 November 2001)

§ Ms Keeble

[holding answer 12 October 2001): There are a number of initiatives across the west midlands, which are promoting regeneration of deprived areas.

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The key ones are as listed: £4.2 million over three years from April 2002 for "neighbourhood management" initiatives in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Burton-on-Trent. Over £3 million through the "Community Empowerment Fund" to help communities get involved in local decision making. Seven areas in west midlands will benefit from this fund. These are Birmingham, Dudley, Coventry, Sandwell, Stoke, Walsall and Wolverhampton. £1.1 million for "community chests" to support small community projects with grants they can get locally with minimum bureaucracy. Seven areas in west midlands will benefit from this fund. These are Birmingham, Dudley, Coventry, Sandwell, Stoke, Walsall and Wolverhampton. New Deal for Community" areas in the west midlands which will benefit from almost £2 billion over the next 10 years. These are: Sandwell—(Greets Green Partnership) A further £263.5 million for five Round 2 Partnerships in the west midlands was announced in April 2001. These are:

Birmingham—Aston Pride
Birmingham—Kings Norton, Three Estates Coventry WEHM
Walsall—New Deal, New Horizons
Wolverhampton—All Saints and Blakenhall

Seven "Neighbourhood Warden schemes" are now operating across the west midlands. The programme is worth £1.027 million. 17 "Street Wardens programmes" have recently been announced in the west midlands. The total value of the scheme is £4.146 million which will be matched by Government funding. Neighbourhood Renewal Fund" will provide £121.5 million for three years from April 2001 to improve services in the most deprived neighbourhoods in the west midlands. Areas benefiting in west midlands are Birmingham, Dudley, Coventry, Sandwell, Stoke, Walsall and Wolverhampton. A Local Strategic Partnership in each area will develop a local "neighbourhood renewal strategy" to guide NRF expenditure.

Advantage West Midlands as part of its Economic Strategy has agreed with partners across the region the designation of six Regeneration Zones which cover 111 of the 153 most deprived wards in the region. Advantage West Midlands has undertaken to spend 70 per cent. of its resources in the zones to help achieve these aims.

European Funding Objective 2 European Structural Funds for the period 2000–06 has earmarked over £100 million to support the regeneration of the most deprived areas in the west midlands. Additionally, the region will benefit from Objective 3 funds worth over £240 million during the same period to help to upskill people and improve their employability.