My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (John Denham) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

On October 14, I informed Parliament about my plan to reinvigorate and connect with those communities that are feeling the pressure from recession most acutely and to ensure that they are well placed to share fully in future prosperity and emerge stronger and more cohesive. On 14 December, I extended the programme beyond the initial 21 local authorities to 75.

I can today inform Parliament that I am announcing a further extension of the programme to bring the total number of areas receiving targeted help in addressing local issues to 161 across over 100 local authorities.

I am also announcing an additional £20 million of resources for the programme to continue in the next financial year.

The programme is enabling local people to influence, shape and change policies on issues that really matter in their community. It will help to make sure that those people who are feeling the pressure the most are getting a bigger say and a fair deal.

Practical actions delivered on estates and streets will focus on making changes that address local people’s concerns, reconnect them with jobs and tackle head-on issues—real and perceived—that left neglected can prove fertile territory for extremism and those who would divide our communities.