§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will be in a position to announce the areas in the United Kingdom which the Economic Community have decided will be eligible for support under the European regional development fund; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsAreas to be eligible for support from the European regional development fund will be those selected for assistance from the reformed European structural funds under their new objectives 1, 2 and 5(b).
The objective 1 areas were listed in Council regulation (EEC) No. 2052/88 of 24 June 1988. They include Northern Ireland.
Objective 2 and 5(b) areas are to be determined by the European Commission. It announced a provisional list of objective 2 (industrial) areas on 8 March 1989. This contains nearly all the industrial assisted areas, including the hon. Member's constituency, and also a number of other areas. Following consultation of an advisory committee of national officials, this list is expected to be finalised during March 1989.
The Commission is expected to decide within a few weeks on a first list of objective 5(b) (rural) areas. It assured us in May 1988 that the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, rural Wales and the assisted areas of Devon and Cornwall would be eligible under objective 5(b).