§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the specific projects concerned and the amounts received in the Lancashire, East Euro-constituency from the European Economic Community regional and social funds from June 1979 to the latest date for which information is available; and how this has affected funding from the Government.
§ Mr. TrippierI regret that it is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to provide an answer in the precise detail requested for the period referred to.
Between 1979 and 1982 a total of £108 million was allocated from the European regional development fund 8W (ERDF) to 247 projects in the North West region which included projects in Lancashire. In 1983 a total of £6 million was allocated to 24 projects in Lancashire.
A list of all projects in receipt of ERDF aid is published from time to time in British Business.
As provided for in article 4.2(a) of the fund regulation, all grants from the European regional development fund in respect of industrial projects are retained by the Government as partial repayment of their own regional aid, which is at a higher level than would otherwise be possible. Fund assistance for infrastructure projects is passed on by the Government to the public authority concerned.
The European social fund (ESF) is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.