§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals to grant additional funds to the United Kingdom under the European Union Resider and Rechar 1994–1997 programmes were discussed at the management committee meeting of member states in December 1995; and if he will make a statement. [10422]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorThe committee's agenda included a Commission proposal to allocate an additional 60 mecu to the United Kingdom for Resider, Rechar, Retex and Konver together, for 1998 and 1999. These are programmes of European structural funds grant for designated areas which have lost jobs in, respectively, steel, coal, textiles and defence.
The UK asked for a larger allocation. Before a decision is taken, the committee will meet again; the European Parliament is also being consulted.
I plan to make a statement after the allocations for these and certain other similar programmes have been settled.