§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken within the Council of Ministers to secure a change in the criteria for allocation of structural funds under objective 1 to ensure that the highlands and islands of Scotland are eligible for assistance.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 17 December 1992]: The Edinburgh European Council decided that there should be no change in the criteria for establishing objective 1 areas and agreed that special cases would also be considered where areas did not meet the strict gross domestic product test. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear that the Government will be arguing for the inclusion of the highlands and islands in the list of objective 1 areas.