HC Deb 10 December 1992 vol 215 c767W
22. Mr. Milligan

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will apply for moneys in the proposed EC cohesion fund to reduce Britain's net contribution to the EC budget.

Sir John Cope

The cohesion fund envisaged in the Maastricht treaty will be a structural fund for member states with a per capita gross national product less than 90 per cent. of the Community average. Purchasing power parities are used to calculate the relative wealth for these funds. On that basis, the United Kingdom would not therefore qualify for any assistance from the cohesion fund.