To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the work of the inner-city task force in Leeds with regard to securing jobs and training for local people and giving assistance to existing local firms and start-up businesses; and how many private sector companies have supported task-force projects in Leeds.

The Government's Chapeltown and Harehills task force has committed £5 million to support some 130 projects. These should create over 340 jobs and more than 3,500 training places for residents of the area. Seventy-three existing businesses and 137 new businesses have received assistance, primarily through the task force's development fund. More than 50 of the projects involve private sector funding.