HC Deb 13 November 2003 vol 413 cc459-60W
Mr. Stevenson

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many area investment frameworks have been established in the West Midlands Region. [137774]

Yvette Cooper

Advantage West Midlands (AWM) has developed six Regeneration Zones in the West Midlands Region, five of which are in urban areas.

The six zones encompass concentration of need and substantial opportunities, and include the most deprived wards in the region. They aim to regenerate communities by raising skills levels, creating development opportunities, reducing unemployment and tackling social exclusion.

A Regeneration Zone Partnership, which includes representatives from local authorities, businesses and the voluntary and community sectors, heads each Regeneration Zone and it is responsible for developing the Regeneration Zone Strategy, identifying needs in the area and how they might be addressed by funding streams available to partners. Substantial work is underway with the West Midlands Regional Observatory, to identify baseline conditions and outcome targets in each zone.

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