To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the status of market renewal pathfinders was conferred by application; what consultations were held in advance with the local authorities; how many applied; and why (a) nine and (b) seven were accepted. [99062]

Low demand pathfinder projects have been established in nine areas of the country at the invitation of the Government. The nine areas are those most acutely affected by the problem of low demand housing. Informal discussions about the low demand situation generally as opposed to the establishment of pathfinder projects were held with some, but not all, of the local authorities participating in the low demand pathfinder projects.