To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what new resources she plans to make available to local authorities to assist the delivery of extended community empowerment under the proposed Community Empowerment Housing and Regeneration Bill, as set out in summary on pages 66 to 68 of the Government’s draft legislative programme, Cm 7372. (206578)

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 5 March that she would publish a White Paper on empowerment in the summer. On 14 May the Prime Minister announced that the Government intend to introduce a Bill on Community Empowerment, Housing and Economic Regeneration in the fourth Session. Any net additional costs for local authorities in England arising in this context will be funded in full.