§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what schemes targeting urban regeneration needs are managed by his Department; how much each scheme has available to invest nationally; what issues each scheme aims to tackle; and how much has been spent annually since 1997(a) nationally, (b) in Teesside, (c) in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough councils and (d) in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency. [25475]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownAll the programmes run by the Department contribute to the Government's overarching commitment to provide employment opportunity for all, to tackle social exclusion and poverty and to improve economic growth in urban and other areas. Action Teams for Jobs and Employment Zones are two specific initiatives that operate in predominantly urban areas of high unemployment. For information about these initiatives, nationally, in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 19 December 2001,Official Report, column 359W.
There is also an Action Team in Stockton-on-Tees. This started work in October 2000 and in its first year of operation engaged 799 clients and helped 457 of them into work. The team is now operating in the following wards in the Stockton-on-Tees local authority area: Charltons; Grange; Hardwick; Marsh House; Mile House; Newtown; Northfield; Parkfield; Portrack and Tilery; Roseworth; St. Aidan's; St. Cuthbert's and Wolviston. It has been allocated £1.475 million for the period October 2001-March 2004.