HC Deb 31 March 1977 vol 929 cc208-10W
Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the applications made by South Yorkshire for aid from the European Regional Development Fund in 1975, 1976 and to date in 1977, and the outcome of each application.

Mr. Guy Barnett

Following is the list:

Applications submitted to the EEC Commission and approved for grant:

  • Carcroft Industrial Estate
  • Kirk Sandall Industrial Estate
  • Shaw Lane Industrial Estate
  • Canklow Meadows Industrial Estate
  • Carlton Industrial Estate
  • Platts Common Industrial Estate

Applications not submitted:

  • Broomhouse Lane Industrial Estate
  • Warmsworth Industrial Estate
  • Hyde Park Industrial Estate
  • Mexborough Site Reclamation
  • Northfield Industrial Estate
  • New Road Industrial Estate
  • Hope Street Industrial Estate
  • Sarah Street Industrial Estate
  • Chapel Walk, Masbrough, Industrial Estate
  • Thornhill Industrial Area
  • Blackburn Industrial Area
  • Kilnhurst Sewer
  • Kiveton Park Station Sewer
  • Brinsworth Sewer
  • Catcliffe Sewer
  • A629 Road Diversion
  • Rotherham Inner By-Pass Extension
  • Grafton Bridge Highway Improvement
  • Power Station Land, Rotherham, Site Clearance
  • Eldon Road Playing Fields
    • 209
  • Meadow Bank/Fenton Road Link
  • Bawtry Road, Highway Improvement
  • Fitzwilliam Road, Highway Improvement
  • Blackburn Valley Sewer
  • Wath Sewerage Works
  • Swinton Sewerage Works
  • Worsborough, Site Investigation
  • Goldthorpe, Cross Street/Beaver Street, Industrial Area
  • Thurnscoe (I) Industrial Area
  • Bankwood Lane Industrial Estate
  • Gas House Bight Industrial Estate
  • Dunsville Quarry, Land Reclamation
  • Drummond Street, Office Block
  • Canklow Meadows Industrial Estate, Advance Factories
  • Leigh Street, Advance Factories
  • Meadow Hall, Advance Factories
  • Attercliffe Common Industrial Estate
  • Oaks Green Industrial Estate

Applications under consideration:

  • Rotherport: South Yorkshire Navigation Canal Improvement
  • Low Valley Industrial Estate
  • Aldham Industrial Estate
  • Heelis Street/Fleet Street Industrial Estate
  • Grange Lane Industrial Estate
  • Thorne Industrial Estate
  • Marshgate Industrial Estate
  • Millfield Industrial Estate
  • Doncaster Carr Industrial Estate
  • Eastwood Trading Estate
  • Soaphouse Lane, Sheffield, Industrial Estate
  • Holbrook Industrial Estate
  • Materials Reclamation Centre, Sheffield

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will in future include land reclamation schemes of importance to areas such as South Yorkshire in projects submitted for aid from the European Regional Development Fund.

Mr. Guy Barnett

My right hon. Friend is willing to consider applications for the reclamation, preparation or servicing of sites for industrial development. Some such projects have already been approved for Fund aid.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the criteria for environmental improvement schemes to qualify for aid from European regional development funds.

Mr. Guy Barnett

To be eligible for Fund aid infrastructure projects must show a direct link with industrial development, so projects of environmental improvement do not qualify.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will press for greater emphasis on infrastructure projects in submitting applications for aid from the European Regional Development Fund.

Mr. Guy Barnett

We are satisfied that the present balance between infrastructure and industrial projects in applications to the Fund is a reasonable one. Within the terms of eligibility in the Fund Regulation, we are doing all we can to encourage public authorities in assisted areas to put forward suitable infrastructure projects for consideration for the Fund.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what facilities exist to provide loans at preferential rates from the European Investment Bank for infrastructure development in regional development schemes.

Mr. Guy Barnett

Under the regulation establishing the European Regional Development Fund assistance from the Fund may take the form of a rebate of three percentage points on loans for infrastructure projects made by the European Investment Bank. The projects must be situated in the areas eligible for Fund aid.