The thorny issue of social exclusion is once again in the headlines.

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The thorny issue of social exclusion is once again in the headlines as Tony Blair and other senior cabinet members are visiting Tower Hamlets in London's East End - one of Britain's poorest areas - to mark the launch of a new package of measures aimed at addressing the problems of urban deprivation.

Britain's most deprived areas are being invited to bid for their share of the cash pile, said to be worth around £130 million. The scheme is hoping to help up to 900 wards in 88 of Britain's poorest communities, though the initial pilot will involve only 30 wards.

One of the key features of the scheme will involve the appointment of a centrally-funded 'Neighbourhood Manager' in each of the problem areas. Their role will involve close liaison with the residents in a bid to trouble shoot the cause of localised problems. This will require a certain degree of local knowledge, influence and authority if the appointments are to prove effective. Crime, health, education and housing are the main areas which are to be targeted.

Also fundamental to the success of the initiative is a spirit of partnership, and ministers hope that local residents, businesses and authorities will pull together in a bid to make the project work. Residents will be asked to take on more responsibility and work closely with the new neighbourhood manager.

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As part of the scheme, local councils will be asked to meet new 'floor targets' which will be set across the country. These will require councils to co-ordinate policies to achieve minimum standards in areas such as education (making sure every school gets at least a quarter of its pupils five "good" GCSE results by 2004) and crime (ensuring that nowhere in England has a burglary rate of more than 3 times the national average). Clearly this sort of policy is aimed at weeding out the real trouble spots and bringing them more closely in line with the rest of ...

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