LIVINGSTONE'S LONDON DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FAILING ON CRUCIAL TARGETS

12.01.00am GMT Fri 6th Feb 2004

Figures received by the Liberal Democrats show that Labour Mayor Ken Livingstone's London Development Agency is falling dangerously behind in four of the five main headline targets.

Commenting on the figures, Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes said:

"The DTi and the Mayor may claim that the LDA is on track to meet its annual targets but the half-yearly performance figures tell a very different story.

"The Agency is significantly behind in providing employment opportunities and has contributed no private sector investment into deprived areas of London. Of the 40 hectares of brownfield land it must regenerate into an acceptable condition it has only recycled 5.9. The LDA ability to attract extra businesses into deprived areas is also simply woeful.

"Blair's Mayor seems to have caught the New Labour disease of missed targets and failed performance. Mr Livingstone is failing to pay enough attention to improving the lives of the people in the poorest communities in the capital."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The figures for London Development Agency half yearly performance can be found below:

London Development Agency

Target Half Yearly Progress Annual Target

Employment Opportunities 4,345 8,000

Business Performance 192 900

Brownfield Land 5.9 40

Education and Skills 9,716 20,000

Investment Benefiting Deprived Areas (£m) 0 250

According to the LDA website:-

"The LDA prepares the Mayor's business plan for London and mobilises the support and resources of hundreds of partner organisations to help build a thriving economy for London's people, businesses and communities. The LDA is dedicated to improving sustainability, health and equality of opportunity for Londoners."

Target 1

Employment Opportunities

Total number of employment opportunities directly attributable to RDA activity - taking new and safeguarded jobs together.

Target 2

Business Performance

Total number of new businesses added to the regional economy as a direct result of RDA activities.

Target 3

Brownfield Land

Total number of hectares of land remediated to an acceptable condition and / or recycled into effective use as a direct result of RDA inputs and activities.

Target 4

Education and Skills

Total number of learning opportunities and / or support provided or influenced as a direct result of RDA support.

Target 5

Investment Benefiting Deprived Areas

The amount of private sector investment benefiting residents of the most deprived wards as a result of RDA funding and activity. Deorived wards are those wards within the bottom 20% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation