§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the annual transfers of EC moneys to Northern Ireland are(a) payments to Northern Ireland under each specific EC fund and (b) payments channelled via the United Kingdom Government and not explicitly identified as common agricultural policy transfers or other such transfers.
97W
§ Mr. MatesThe greatest part of the annual transfers of EC monies to Northern Ireland are made via the United Kingdom Government as payments from either the European regional development fund, the European social fund or the European guidance and guarantee fund (EGGF). Other small payments are made by the European Commission direct to recipients which are not passed through the United Kingdom Government.
The majorty of payments under the guarantee section of the EGGF are made centrally on a United Kingdom basis through the Intervention Board Executive Agency and are not recorded on a territorial basis. There are no other transfers of EC monies to Northern Ireland via the United Kingdom Government.