§ Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he proposes to submit any application for European Community regional development fund grant from areas which are to lose assisted area status.
§ Mr. MacGregorInfrastructure projects in areas due to be downgraded will continue to be considered for submission for assistance under the quota section of the European regional development fund until the end of July 1982 with due regard to the requirements of the ERDF regulation that priority should be given to projects in the development and special development areas and to the Government's policy of concentrating regional assistance on the areas of greatest need.
The United Kingdom's share of the ERDF remains unaffected by the changes in assisted area status due to come into effect from 1 August 1982.Moneys due in respect of projects submitted and accepted before that date will, of course, continue to be paid even after the areas concerned are no longer assisted. Assistance under the smaller non-quota section of the fund need not be confined to the assisted areas.