§ Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for 255W Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Regional Development Agency funding for Carnforth under the Market Towns Initiative. [170232]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 10 May 2004]: I have been advised by the Northwest Development Agency that it has issued guidance to Market Town Partnerships in the North West, including Carnforth, indicating that it is prepared to directly invest up to £1 million in each town.
§ Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding the Regional Development Agency has spent or allocated to projects in Lancashire since the agency was created; and if she will list the(a) funding and (b) projects by constituency in order of amount of funding. [170233]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 10 May 2004]: I have been advised by the Northwest Development Agency that since its creation, NWDA has not collated data by sub-region or parliamentary constituency. Spend has been monitored by programme and/or activity, and many of the Agency's projects and schemes span several constituencies and local authority areas.
As of April 2004, the Agency now has a three year investment strategy which will monitor budgeted expenditure by sub region.
The NWDA has provided funding of over £500,000 to support the following projects in Lancashire:
- Preston Post Office
- Lancashire West Business Productivity
- Lancashire Tourism Partnership (SRB Round 3)
- Bacup and Stacksteads (SRB Round 6)
- Blackpool Challenge Partnership (SRB Round 6)
- Lancashire Small Sites Programme 2002
- Michelin Site, Burnley
- Pendle Economic Regeneration Programme (PERP)
- Fleetwood Marsh Nature Park
- Burnley Technology Centre
- Pavillions, Blackburn
- Cardwell Mill
- Rossendale Brownfield Land Project
- White Moss Business Park Phase 2
- Blackpool Regeneration: Talbot Road South
- Acquisition
- Green Business Parks (Lancs)
- Futures Park Managed Offices Bacup
- White Moss Business Park Investment Centre
- Skelmersdale Acquisitions
- Landgate and Moss Quarries
- Former Co Op Burnley
- ASP—N and W Lancs Core and Lancs ASP Activities
256W - Lancashire Rural Recovery Plan
- Lancashire LSC—Festival of Skills
- East Lancs Partnership (SRB Round 5)
- Clitheroe Market Town Initiative
- F D Sims Ltd
- Blackpool: Central Gateway Phase 1
- Erlson Engineering Ltd
- West Lancashire Investing in Business Programme
§ Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the current position is regarding Regional Development Agency funding for the Midland Hotel and Central Regeneration Project in Morecambe; and when she expects the project will begin. [170234]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 10 May 2004]: I have been advised by the Northwest Development Agency that the Midland Hotel re-development project has been identified in the Agency's three year investment plan for 2004–07. Discussions are about to begin with the owner and developer, Urban Splash, about Agency funding support during that period. The Agency understand that Urban Splash intend to start work in the summer of this year.