§ 16. Mr. Gristasked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total number and value of (a) loans and (b) grants made to private and public businesses and authorities in Wales under the terms of the treaties of Rome and of Paris since the United Kingdom's accession to the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe total value in terms of financial assistance from the European Community is £736 million in loans and £480 million in grants. Because of the diverse nature of the various loan and grant schemes, it is not possible to give an accurate figure of the total number of individual loans and grants involved.
§ Mr. GristDoes my right hon. Friend agree that those figures and the figures for all the other loans and grants in connection with the development fund, which he mentioned this afternoon, should be widely known in Wales, not least by MEPs who represent Welsh seats for the Labour party?
§ Mr. EdwardsThey are probably aware of them. It is extraordinary that they should repeatedly urge further expenditure on infrastructure in Wales, and yet be less than enthusiastic about our membership of the Community which supports many of those schemes.