§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the use of EC cohesion funds by member states to clean up bathing beaches to meet standards required under EC directives.
§ Mr. YeoThe cohesion fund assists the poorest member states to improve their transport and environment infrastructure, including sewerage systems. We contribute only 5 per cent. of the cohesion fund, substantially less than France, Germany or Spain. We benefit from the EC structural funds and expect to receive about £10 billion from 1994–99. Investments in sewerage improvements can be supported by these funds.