| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Regional Funding
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much European Union regional funding aid has been made available to London since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [156700]
Ms Armstrong: The table gives details of European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) and European Social Funding (ESF) made available in the London region from 1997:
| ERDF | ESF | |
|---|---|---|
| Objective 2 | 48.980 | 15.709 |
| Konver II | 7.198 | 1.068 |
| Retex | 0.460 | 0.105 |
| Urban Heart of the East End | 4.340 | 0.928 |
| Urban Park Royal | 4.135 | 0.974 |
| SME Community Initiative | 1.318 | 0.254 |
| Objective 3 | 0 | 165.000 |
| Objective 4 | 0 | 16.000 |
| Total | 66.431 | 200.038 |
A further £560 million of ERDF and ESF is being made available in the London region for the new round of Objective 2 and 3 programmes (2000-06).
Public Open Space
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy on public open space in
2 Apr 2001 : Column: 16W
inner-city areas; and if he has decided to call in the extension of a bus depot on to public open space at Stalyford, Newcastle. [156468]
Ms Armstrong: The Government believe that everyone should have access to good quality open space close to where they live, and attach high importance to their retention in urban areas. Our Urban White Paper: "Our Towns and Cities: The Future" sets out a range of measures for improving the quality of urban parks and green spaces, including the setting up of the Urban Green Spaces Taskforce. On 21 March we issued, for consultation, "Revised Planning Policy Guidance note 17: Sports, Open Space and Recreation." The guidance provides a clearer framework for improving provision of open spaces and ensuring such spaces are better protected from development.
No decision has been taken in relation to the application to extend the bus depot in Stalyford, Newcastle.
Asbestos
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what recent assessment he has made of the health and safety implications connected with the use of asbestos in the brake systems of London Underground trains; [156559]
- (2) what recent assessment he has made of the quantity of asbestos utilised in the brake systems of London Underground trains. [156560]
Mr. Hill: This is an operational matter for London Underground who inform me that there is no asbestos in the brakes used on London Underground trains.
Departmental Policies (Southwark)
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the London borough of Southwark, the effects on the London borough of Southwark of his Department's policies and actions since May 2 1997. [155979]
Ms Armstrong: The principal funding that this Department has provided to the London borough of Southwark is shown in the table. This includes grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.
2 Apr 2001 : Column: 15W
| Nature of funding | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02(2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue Support Grant(3) | 176,612,000 | 181,475,000 | 192,015,000 | 193,464,000 | 205,566,000 |
| Income from national Non-Domestic Rates(3) | 50,648,000 | 52,327,000 | 56,862,000 | 64,389,000 | 63,936,000 |
| Housing Investment Programme | 20,129,000 | 27,752,000 | 29,229,000 | 45,946,000 | 52,921,000 |
| Housing Revenue Account Subsidy | 130,861,916 | 122,044,327 | 115,504,573 | (4)117,290,559 | n/k |
| Capital Receipts Initiative | 3,224,337 | 11,386,000 | 12,088,000 | n/a | n/a |
| Cash Incentive Scheme | 3,253,000 | 2,029,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| SRB Funding | 15,979,290 | 16,105,921 | 11,868,091 | 10,017,991 | (5)6,865,558 |
| New Deal for Communities Funding | n/a | 13,050 | 545,024 | 367,218 | 1,509,623 |
| Neighbourhood Renewal Funding | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1,978,000 |
| Transport Supplementary Grant | 325,000 | 279,000 | 230,000 | 0 | -- |
| Transport Annual Capital Guideline | 325,000 | 279,000 | 230,000 | 0 | -- |
| Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval | 2,141,000 | 2,536,000 | 3,409,000 | (6)1,996,000 | n/k |
| Capital Challenge (Supplementary Credit and Basic Credit Approvals) | 1,983,000 | 4,182,000 | 4,195,000 | n/a | n/a |
(2) Where known
(3) The figures for all Settlements prior to 2001-02 are unadjusted for transfers of services. Authorities are responsible for a slightly different mix of services this year compared to previous years. Consequently a comparison based on last year's actual grant figure would not form the basis of an accurate comparison.
(4) Provisional figures
(5) Projected
(6) As at 28 March 2001
2 Apr 2001 : Column: 17W
Single Regeneration Budget (SRB)
1. Peckham Partnership (SRB Round 1)
The Peckham Partnership is a Round 1 SRB scheme, and the largest to have been approved to date. The scheme is currently in its sixth year of operation.
The majority of funding has been spent on the physical renewal of the notorious 1960s built 'Five Council Estates' in the Liddle Ward of Peckham, originally covering a residential population of 11,000. A large scale programme of decanting, demolition, refurbishment and re-build has led to a demonstrable improvement of the physical appearance of the area, leading to improved levels of resident satisfaction and improved community safety resulting from changes in estate layout and street-scape. The Partnership has also achieved its aim of increased housing tenure mix, with the success of the first phase of the homes for sale (open market and shared ownership) hailed as a particular success, particularly in attracting local people to stay in the area.
2. Greater Peckham Alliance (SRB Round 6)
Following on from the mainly physical renewal work of the Peckham Partnership and the desire by the local community to work with statutory agencies to improve the social and economic fabric of the area. The Greater Peckham Alliance (GPA), a newly formed community based partnership, has successfully secured funding under SRB Round 6.
The main purpose of the GPA is to initiate a range of capacity building projects, build community involvement and commission community-led projects with the central aim of improving local residents educational attainment and economic status plus developing the social fabric of the overall community in Peckham.
3. Aylesbury Plus Initiative, Southwark (SRB Round 4)
This is a six-year scheme that aims to improve the overall physical and social conditions on the Aylesbury estate through a package of education, training, employment and community safety measures. The scheme builds on Southwark's experience of major regeneration work in the nearby Peckham Partnership area and will therefore input into the wider regeneration of this part of the borough. Housing problems will also be tackled.
4. Southwark Campaign Against Hate Crime (SRB Round 6)
Led by the London borough of Southwark, the purpose of this seven year programme is to develop and resource a resilient and sustainable integrated community based approach to the reduction of hate crimes in Southwark--acts of violence and abuse motivated by prejudice. This will include fully resourced services for victims and challenging interventions with offenders, to secure improved social cohesion and ongoing regeneration of the borough.
5. Elephant Links (SRB Round 5)
Led by the London borough of Southwark the purpose of the programme is to catalyse major commercial and public investment and release potential sustainable local regeneration in the Elephant and Castle area.
6. Cross River Partnership--Southwark (SRB Round 2 & 3)
The London borough of Southwark is one of the four accountable bodies for the early Cross River Partnership schemes, the others being the London borough of Lambeth, the City of Westminster and the South Bank Employers' Group (which comprises private and public sector employers in the South Bank area of both Lambeth and Southwark). The Partnership comprises these four bodies together with the Corporation of London, Railtrack, Focus TEC, Groundwork, TfL, PLA and the LTB. CRP's overall objective is:
"to improve and protect the environment of the Cross River area, reinforce London's status as a world class centre for leisure, the arts and business, offer education and training and create job opportunities for local people and improve the quality of life for those who live, work and visit the area".
Local Authorities (Members Allowances)
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment
2 Apr 2001 : Column: 18W
he has made of variations in the level of members allowances in local authorities with a population of over 100,000; and if he will publish this information. [156687]
Ms Armstrong: This information is not held centrally, and no assessment has been made.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |