HC Deb 07 November 2002 vol 392 cc606-8W
Mr. Gummer

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much(a) money, (b) departmental time and (c) other resources the Government has expended on the Urban Summit. [79344]

Mr. McNulty

The final expenditure and income figures for the Urban Summit have yet to be determined. However, the net cost of staging the event, after taking account of income from ticket sales, exhibition stand sales and sponsorship is currently estimated at about £550,000. This figure includes the costs of contractors, consultants and agency staff recruited to work on the Summit organisation, but excludes the costs of permanent ODPM staff. The costs of the permanent ODPM staff in the Summit organising team are estimated at about £200,000.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which urban councils not controlled by the Labour Party were represented at the Urban Summit on 31st October to 1st November. [80308]

Mr. McNulty

All urban councils were invited to attend the Urban Summit, regardless of political control. An analysis of the delegate database is being carried out to provide the information requested. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information is available. A copy of my letter will be deposited in the House of commons Library.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which(a) district councillors and (b) officers from urban councils which are not controlled by the Labour Party were invited (i) to speak and (ii) to chair sessions at the Urban Summit of 31st October to 1st November. [80307]

Mr. McNulty

Taking all local authorities in England, one County Councillor and four officers either spoke at or chaired themed sessions at the Urban Summit from authorities which are not controlled by the Labour Party.

Llew Smith

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the(a) regeneration initiatives and (b) publications launched by his Department at the Urban Summit in Birmingham; what the cost was of holding the summit; how many registered attendees and media representatives were present; whether a sustainability audit was done of the summit venue in advance of the decision to use the international convention centre; and if he will make a statement on matters learned at the summit; and what his next actions will be in relation to urban regeneration. [80364]

Mr. McNulty

A number of initiatives and publications were launched at the Urban Summit in Birmingham on 31 October and 1 November 2002. These includedan announcement that steps were being taken to ensure that future housing developments in the South East would be at over 30 homes per hectare; publication of the report "Living Places—Cleaner, Safer. Greener" setting out the Government's vision for public space and its responses to the recommendations of the Urban Green Spaces Taskforce; the setting up of a new unit to champion public space under the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment; publication of five reports, called "Partners in Urban Renaissance" bringing together work done over the last year in 24 towns and cities across England; a partnership between the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships to work together on land assembly and delivering new homes; the first annual review of the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit entitled "Places, People, Prospects"; publication of "Cities, Regions and Competitiveness" the interim report of a working Group on the role of Core Cities in creating prosperous regions.

In relation to the cost of staging the Urban Summit I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. right Member for Suffolk Coastal (Mr. Gummer).

Final checks are being made on delegate numbers but our records currently show that 1525 delegates registered and attended the Summit and 138 media representatives were present.

No formal sustainability audit was carried out but sustainability issues, such as the accessibility of the venue by public transport, were factors in the criteria for selecting the venue.

Debate on urban issues at the Summit took place not just in the plenary sessions, but also in 28 themed sessions. The key messages and ideas which came out of those sessions are being gathered together and will be fed into the development of the long term plan for sustainable communities which the Deputy Prime Minister will be presenting to the House in January 2003. A report on the Summit's proceedings will be deposited in the House of Commons library.