HL Deb 20 March 2002 vol 632 cc151-2WA
Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they propose to announce the outcome of stage one of the review of English Partnerships. [HL3412]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

Today we are announcing the outcome of the first stage of the current review of English Partnerships (EP), together with appointment of the new chair of the organisation.

The new chair of English Partnerships is to be Margaret Ford. She has extensive experience in economic development and of working with government organisations within the UK and internationally. She has particular experience of leading organisations though periods of considerable change. We are confident that Margaret Ford is the right person to lead EP into its new role.

EP will become the Secretary of State's expert adviser on brownfield regeneration, managing a national portfolio of strategic sites and managing demonstration projects. EP will work with national, regional and local partners, especially the RDAs, and the private sector to identify strategic brownfield land and prioritise and facilitate its development. There is a continuing remit for EP as a national public sector body and as a vital component of the Government's programme for achieving an urban renaissance.

To sharpen the organisation's focus on brownfield regeneration, we intend EP progressively to transfer its non-strategic Commission for the New Towns (CNT) landholdings to other appropriate bodies, for example the local authority.

In the spirit of the two Green Papers we published last year setting out fundamental changes to local government and the planning system, EP will relinquish the use of its planning powers in the former new town areas, bringing control over the development of these areas under the democratic control of their local councils. This will be a staged process.

As part of stage two of review, we want to resolve the problems that have arisen in the past from the dual statutory function of the former Urban Regeneration Agency and the Commission for the New Towns. This will give EP a common purpose and help it in taking forward its changed agenda.

I am today placing in the Library of the House the report on stage one of the review, including the KPMG consultation report and key areas to be addressed in stage two. There is still important work to be done and we will continue to listen to and work with the widest range of interested organisations.