§ 11.9 a.m.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any requests from the United Kingdom for assistance in connection with industrial development and improvement schemes from the EEC are outstanding, and whether they will give an assurance that the approval of the appropriate Minister is not in any way delayed.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord Beswick)My Lords, of the 12 applications made, three have been approved by both Her Majesty's Government and the Commission, two have been approved by the Government and await approval from the Commission; seven are being jointly examined by the Commission and the Government.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDEMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Will he bear in mind that, with the immense amount of cash that can come from Europe to our industries, to those of us who want a "Yes" in the referendum it would be helpful if everything was decided upon without delay? This will make an enormous impression on the whole country, which wants the kind of help which can come from Europe to our industries. Therefore delay would be very unfortunate.
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, while accepting that there can be useful assistance from the EEC, may I suggest that the fact of the matter is that it is a tiny proportion of the total sum of money which is made available directly from Government funds.