HL Deb 20 October 2004 vol 665 cc82-3WA
Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many staff are employed at national level and in each relevant region on the housing market renewal pathfinder projects; and what is the cost of the administration of these projects at national level and in each relevant region. [HL4354]

The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker)

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's market renewal team manages the market renewal pathfinder programme, which is investing £150 million in the current financial year in tackling low demand and abandonment. The team comprises 12 staff, the budgeted cost of which is £445,000 in the current financial year. In addition, staff in the Government Offices provide some support to the pathfinders as part of their broader portfolio of responsibilities. The cost of such support is therefore very difficult to quantify, but is substantially less than the cost of the London HQ team.