Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research her Department has carried out into the impact of projects supported by European Union Urban II funding in (a) Thames Gateway Kent and (b) the UK; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: In line with European regulations, two national evaluations have already been carried out on the English Urban II programmes, including the Thames Gateway Kent programme. These were the Mid Term Evaluation of 2003 and the subsequent update carried out in 2005. These reports have been accepted by the European Commission, and CLG and the programme managers have been acting on the recommendations within these reports. In addition, each programme produces an Annual Implementation Report summarising key achievements and impacts in the relevant urban areas. Copies of these reports are available from CLG and the Government offices for the regions.
As part of the closure of the Urban II programmes in December 2008, final closure reports are expected to show further evaluation of these programmes and in particular the legacy that they will leave in each region.