§ 3. Mr. Andrew George (St. Ives)What assessment he has made of the prospects for securing objective 1 status for United Kingdom regions in the next round of negotiations on EU structural funds. [55053]
§ The Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry (Mrs. Barbara Roche)On the basis of the Commission's proposals and the latest Eurostat figures, it appears likely that a number of UK areas will be eligible for objective 1 status. Detailed negotiations of the regulations are currently under way between member states and the Commission. The Cardiff Council set a deadline of the end of March 1999 for agreement on the Agenda 2000 proposals.
§ Mr. GeorgeI thank the Minister for her reply. I am sure that she is aware just how anxious are the regions, which have to put together the programmes and the programming documents, that those matters should be brought to a conclusion and objective 1 regions confirmed as soon as possible. Can she confirm that the Secretary of State is as enthusiastic as his predecessor was to bring those matters to a conclusion; that she will meet a delegation from Cornwall, as requested by the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Ms Atherton) recently; and that for regions such as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, this matter will be given the highest priority prior to the Dresden conference next year?
§ Mrs. RocheThe hon. Gentleman knows how hard the Government have been fighting the United Kingdom case on structural funds. I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman was present for last week's debate on this subject, but, during that debate, all parties congratulated the Government and the Secretary of State on their tough stance. I can assure the House that the Government will do all that we can to get the fairest possible outcome for the UK and all its regions.
§ Mr. Ben Chapman (Wirral, South)Does my hon. Friend agree that, although much progress has been made on Merseyside, gross domestic product per capita still remains at three quarters of that of Europe as a whole? Does she therefore agree that the continuation of objective 1 status is essential for that region and that the same applies with assisted area status for the whole of Merseyside, including the Wirral?
§ Mrs. RocheAs regards structural funds and objective 1 status, the figures are encouraging for Merseyside. The House will know that, on assisted area status, we have a review of the map, as the Commission requires us to do. Every hon. Member has been sent a copy of the review and I urge all hon. Members to respond to it. The closing date is tomorrow.
§ Mr. John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood)Would not the disparities in wealth that exist within our country, which are significant, be even greater were we to accept a single currency? The differences in economic performance within the United Kingdom with our single interest rate are as nothing compared with differences in 448 wealth within a Europe with a single currency where a single rate of interest would not be universally appropriate.
§ Mrs. RocheThe hon. Gentleman tempts me, and perhaps I can say that we probably have rather different views on the European question. What we have in common is a determination to get the best possible deal for the United Kingdom, which is why, in the negotiations, we are arguing, particularly in relation to objective 2 status, for maximum flexibility, so that we can hone our efforts towards particular areas of deprivation. That certainly will be to the benefit of all regions of the United Kingdom.