23. To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the credit crunch on the ability of local authorities to meet their local area agreement targets. (248961)

We are working closely with local authorities as part of the current LAA annual review to address delivery issues and ensure that priorities and targets remain the right ones for each local area in the light of the economic downturn. This will lead to refreshed LAAs in the spring.