HC Deb 03 March 1993 vol 220 c161W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what action his Department is taking to ensure that the United Kingdom complies with the additionality criteria for European Community structural funds; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what efforts his Department is making to account for European Community structural funds receipts transparently; and if he will make a statement.

Sir John Cope

Article 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4253/88 requires that theincrease in the appropriations for the Funds provided for in Article 12(2) of Regulation (EEC) No. 2052/88 has a genuine additional economic impact in the regions concerned and results in at least an equivalent increase in the total volume of official and similar (Community and national) structural aid in the Member State concerned". Accordingly, our public expenditure arrangements take account of Community receipts from the structural funds when departmental programmes are set.

From the beginning of the next financial year, the Government will implement new arrangements agreed with the Commission to improve the transparency of the public expenditure treatment of European regional development fund receipts. Details of these new arrangements were set out in a written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry on 30 June 1992 at column 526.