To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding has been (a) distributed to each local authority through the Empty Shops Funding Grant and (b) subsequently spent by each authority; how many empty premises have been utilised as part of the scheme in each year since its inception; and how many he estimates will be used in the next two years. (292080)

On 13 August, CLG announced £3 million funding to help areas hit hardest by the recession find ways to boost town centres, and in particular mitigate the negative impact of empty shops on the high street. The 57 local authorities, shown in the following list, have each received £52,631.58. This is new funding for 2009-10 only, which forms part of the package of support that CLG is providing to boost town centres and high streets, as set out in “Looking after our town centres”, which we published in April.

In accordance with the Government’s policy on local authority funding, it is for the local authorities concerned to decide precisely how it should be spent. However, we continue to work with local authorities and other stakeholders to highlight positive approaches for making use of empty shops, and other ideas for promoting town centres.

Local authorities receiving empty shops funding:

Ashfield

Barnsley

Barrow-in-Furness

Birmingham

Blackburn with Darwen

Blackpool

Bolton

Boston

Bristol

Burnley

Copeland

Corby

Coventry

Darlington

Derby City

Doncaster

Dudley

Durham

Gateshead

Great Yarmouth

Hackney

Halton

Harlow

Hartlepool

Hastings

Hyndburn

Ipswich

Kingston Upon Hull

Kirklees

Knowsley

Leeds

Leicester City

Liverpool

Manchester

Mansfield

Middlesbrough

Newcastle upon Tyne

North East Lincolnshire

North Tyneside

Nottingham City

Pendle

Preston

Rochdale

Rossendale

Rotherham

Salford

Sandwell

Sefton

Sheffield

South Tyneside

Stoke-on-Trent

Sunderland

Tameside

Thanet

Walsall

Wigan

Wolverhampton