Prime Minister's question asked in the House of Commons, by Neil Turner (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 1 July 2009 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Engagements

Question: This Labour Government have made a lot of progress in tackling disadvantaged communities, such as Pemberton, Scholes and Beech Hill in my constituency, through the neighbourhood renewal fund. However, local authorities and primary care trusts are hampered from building on that success because they do not get the money that the Government formula tells them they are entitled to. Will my right hon. Friend meet me, and other colleagues with similar constituencies, to see whether we can find ways to tackle the problem?

Answer: I understand that Wigan will receive more than £21 million between 2008-09 and 2010-11 as an additional resource to help tackle problems faced by local people. Of course I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to talk about both the neighbourhood renewal fund and some other aspects of central funding to local authorities, but I do say that in the past few years we have increased those resources substantially. Where there is unemployment, we will be increasing resources to help people get back to work.

Secondary information