HC Deb 15 October 1990 vol 177 cc691-2W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the whole of Northern Ireland will qualify under the new European Community Interreg initiative.

Mr. Cope

The whole of Northern Ireland will qualify, apart from the city of Belfast.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what way he has brought to the attention of the public in Northern Ireland the eligible measures under the European Community Interreg initiative; what is the closing date for the submission of proposals to the Government; what is the closing date for submission of proposals to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope

Officials from the Department of Finance and Personnel wrote to a large number of local bodies and organisations in Northern Ireland in August and September advising them about the Interreg initiative enclosing a set of guidelines on the Initiative issued by the Commission. Recipients were asked to forward preliminary proposals for consideration. A number of presentations, to which local bodies and organisations were invited, are taking place during this month to explain the initiative further and answer any queries. In addition, a conference, organised jointly by the Belfast and Dublin European Commission Offices, will be held in November at which interested parties, north and south of the border, can obtain further information and put forward their ideas.

The Government wrote to ask local bodies and organisations in September to put forward their preliminary ideas by the middle of this month in order that work can proceed in preparing a Northern Ireland/ Republic of Ireland submission detailing the aims, objectives and measures of a joint programme for submission to the European Commission by the due date. That date is at the end of February 1991—six months from the date of publication of the European Commission guidelines on the initiative. However, it should be noted, that provided projects fall within the scope of the measures under the programme they can be submitted and considered at any time during its lifetime, that is, to the end of 1993.