To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 29 October 2008, Official Report, column 1147W, on the Interreg Programme, what projects are being considered under the Interreg (a) IVA and (b) IVB programmes which relate to the United Kingdom. (252787)

This information is not held centrally by my Department and it could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 29 October 2008, Official Report, column 1147W, on the Interreg Programme, what the (a) purpose and (b) remit is of each of the five Interreg IVC programmes. (252794)

The information on each of the five projects is as follows:

1. Power

The lead partner is South East England Development Agency. The project will explore ways to move towards a low carbon economy at regional level, in particular re-formulating regional development strategies and policy instruments and identifying effective forms of sub-regional action which also contribute to regional competitiveness. The seven participating regions will work towards achieving long-term policy objectives around low carbon by finding the best way forward.

2. SEE

The lead partner is Design Wales. The project will share information on policies that have been successful in using design to boost innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability or economic development. The project has a partnership of 11 organisations, which targets small and medium enterprises and their lack of resources for implementing design practice and innovation into their business.

3. PIMMS Transfer

The lead partner is the London borough of Bromley. The project builds on the ‘transfer methodology’ developed under Interreg IIIC, which identified the critical success factors behind best practice case studies in mobility management. It aims to stimulate modal shift towards more sustainable forms of transport by increasing the implementation of high quality mobility management techniques and policies in European regions and to extend, deepen and promote best practice in mobility management. The partnership is composed of 15 organisations from 15 countries.

4. GRaBS

The lead partner is the Town and Country Planning Association. The Green and Blue Space Adaptation for Urban Areas and Eco Towns project aims to improve the regional decision and policy making process in relation to the planning and development of new and existing urban areas in nine member states in the context of climate change. It comprises 14 partners.

5. RAPIDE

The lead partner is the South West Regional Development Agency. The project deals with the role of the public sector in stimulating innovation in regions, in particular helping mainly small businesses bring innovative products to market more quickly. By focusing on good practices already identified in partner regions, it aims to develop robust, workable action plans that each region will implement. The project includes 13 partners from 11 member states.