HC Deb 15 June 2000 vol 351 cc1091-3
4. Mr. Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire)

When he will publish the map agreed by the EU for eligibility for regional selective assistance; and if he will make a statement. [124583]

The Minister for Trade (Mr. Richard Caborn)

As soon as possible, once the map has been agreed with the Commission. I hope that that answer is in compliance with your desires, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker

Absolutely. Perfect.

Mr. Kirkwood

Will the Minister of State give special consideration to those areas seeking eligibility for inclusion on the map and which were on it in July 1999 but have lost that position in the most recent proposals? Will he consider those cases sympathetically? Will he also acknowledge that, now that the United States Trade Department has proposed trade sanctions against the importation of cashmere jerseys, state aid will be more important than ever in developing the local economy in areas such as my own, in places such as Kelso? Will he undertake to get the map's details resolved as soon as possible, and try to impress on the European Commission the urgent need to sort out the underlying trade dispute with the United States?

Mr. Caborn

On the first point, yes, we shall try to move the Commission on the matter as quickly as possible. I understand the hon. Gentleman's desire, which is shared by many other hon. Members, to clear up the matter as quickly as possible. We have a number of indicative offers out for regional selective assistance, but they have been held up because of non-clearance of the map. I hope that the Commission will deal with the matter sooner rather than later.

We are making very strong representations on cashmere and the United States's new approach on the carousel. The European Commission knows our position on those issues, on which we shall be making separate representations.

Mr. Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington)

In relation to West Cumbria, the gross domestic product figures that the European Commission uses as the basis on which it calculates regional selective assistance levels are simple, plain rubbish. They do not reflect what is going on in reality, as we lose substantial numbers of jobs in various industries. Can we have an inquiry into the make-up of those statistics and a review of the whole arrangement?

Mr. Caborn

I cannot comment in detail on the issues that my hon. Friend has raised, but the statistics are consistent across the Community. If specific areas have problems with the statistical analysis, we will consider them. The statisticians, both here in the United Kingdom and in the European Union, are professional people of integrity. If there are fundamental mistakes or flaws, we will consider them.

Mr. Ian Bruce (South Dorset)

What role will the regional development agencies play in deciding how money will be spent in regional assisted areas? Will the Minister consider carefully what is happening in the south-west, where the RDA looks after Cornwall? The RDA has shown an appalling lack of activity, especially in my constituency, in leaving the best site in the south-west empty because of its inaction in getting the Portland naval site freed up. Will he please get a grip on that awful organisation?

Mr. Caborn

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman should have a meeting with Sir Michael Lickiss, the chairman of the RDA. If he has complaints beyond that meeting, we will discuss them. The strategy presented by the south-west RDA was a bottom-up process and was the subject of wide consultation in the south-west. The business community in the area accepted that strategy, and so did the Government, and that is what we will work towards. We will look into the specific point that the hon. Gentleman raised.

Ms Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent, North)

I thank the Minister for the work that he is doing to get the objective 2 map agreed, as well as the regional state aid map. It is important that we balance the money available for communities across the country, but I ask him to do all that he can to get a decision by the summer. In the interim and in respect of North Staffordshire, can he confirm that his officials are giving advice that conditional offers can be made, pending agreement by the Commission? In other words, can he confirm that everything that can be done is being done to benefit the North Staffordshire community?

Mr. Caborn

The answer is yes, and we have been giving out indicative offers since 1 January this year, to ensure some stability for the process, but we cannot make decisions until the European Commission makes decisions on the map. By the way, if the Staffordshire newspaper The Sentinel was as supportive of its area as other regional newspapers, it could promote the area instead of running it down all the time. It is disgraceful that an official of the Commission has actually had to write to the editor about its inaccurate reports, which affect the area's industrial base. The letter stated: Moreover, the quotes in question are insulting to a UK Cabinet Minister and his Department.