§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy with regard to the provision of matching funds to help applications for assistance from the EU in Wales under objective 5b schemes. [23074]
§ Mr. RedwoodThe objective 5b single programming document for rural Wales 1994–99 makes available European structural funds grants averaging some £23 million a year to support national public expenditure on projects averaging some £34 million and private sector contributions of around £5 million a year. These figures clearly demonstrates that, without substantial domestic expenditure to support projects, it would not be possible to utilise the structural funds grant resources being made available.
Funding for projects can come from a variety of sources including local authorities, Government agencies, training and enterprise councils and voluntary bodies as well as from my Department. It is for applicants to determine whom they should approach to seek funding for any project. Those approached for matching funding, including my Department, will need to satisfy themselves that there is no legal or other constraint to them providing such funding and consider, inter alia, the quality of the project, whether it represents good value for money and what other funding approaches they have received before deciding whether they wish to invest in the project.