§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff there are, and what the annual running cost in 2003–04 is, of each of the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders in England; and if he will make a statement. [134610]
§ Yvette CooperCurrently each pathfinder has the following numbers of staff supporting scheme development and delivery co-ordination; Birmingham 507W Sandwell (seven full-time and four part-time); East Lancashire (three full-time); Humberside (five full-time); Manchester Salford (nine full-time and seven part-time); Merseyside (four full-time); South Yorkshire (10 full-time); Newcastle (nine full-time and one part-time); North Staffs (six full-time); Oldham Rochdale (four full-time and seven part-time).
Annual running costs in 2003–04 are not yet available. All pathfinders will be using the part of the£2.66 million allocated for preparation of their strategic schemes. Running costs will vary from pathfinder to pathfinder depending on when the schemes are agreed and large-scale implementation begins.