That is partly the fault of higher petrol prices but may also perversely reflect the efforts of local planning bodies to protect independent stores in town centres by blocking new supermarket developments outside them.
Based in Sharjah, this Centre under the auspices of UNESCO has trained over 300 educational planners and managers over the past two years and has also facilitated access to information and materials on educational planning and management, as developed by UNESCO and regional centres of expertise.
The government says it has also given local authorities new powers to offer business rate discounts and has simplified planning restrictions to allow new businesses to set up in town centres.
As well as improving security at channel ports, and trying to persuade European governments to take a harder line, Britain is planning to introduce identity cards for asylum applicants, and house them in special centres, rather than paying them benefits to live in the wider community.
The government says local communities will be given more control over housing and planning decisions and be able to question how services - such as children's centres and transport - are being run by their local authority.