To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's press release of 14 January 2010 on urban development corporations, whether any changes are to be made to levels of regeneration funding as a consequence of the merger or closure of the Development Corporations; whether he expects any staff to be made redundant; and what estimate he has made of the gross monetary value of the savings from such changes. (314993)

In consequence of the outcome of the Quinquennial Review no changes to funding in the current or next financial year are being made, while funding for subsequent years will be decided in the next spending review. We do not expect the urban development corporations to make any redundancies as a result of the review.

All three development corporations are already participating in the Government's operational efficiency programme, which could yield cumulative savings across their operating costs of £8 million in the period to 2013-14. Increased joint working, delivery and shared services with partners in west Northamptonshire should achieve additional cumulative savings of at least £1 million by 2013-14. Further savings will arise in due course from the transfer of Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation to the HCA but it is too early to estimate what these will be as it will depend upon when, for example, operating systems can be harmonised.