§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the Government's policy on the European Parliament budget committee's motion in respect of additional funding for the Rechar 2 and Retex 2 structural funds in 1997 to 1999; and if he will make a statement. [21527]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 20 March 1996]: I refer to the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Esher (Mr. Taylor) on 22 January 1996, Official Report, column 5.
375WThe amounts for these and certain other similar programmes are not due to be settled until after the next meeting of the management committee, which is expected to be on 24 April 1996.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on steel producing regions since 1994 of EU structural funds under the Resider II programme; and if he will make a statement; [21489]
(2) what official visits he has made since 1994 to steel producing regions to investigate the implementation of reconversion programmes funded by the Resider II programme; and what plans he has for future such visits. [21490]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 20 March 1996]: Visits by DTI Ministers to steel areas have not been specifically for this purpose.
No Resider II programmes commenced in 1994. In the UK, the western Scotland and Wales programmes were adopted by the European Commission in July and August 1995. The English programme is not yet adopted. It is too soon to assess the impact of these programmes.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) with which British(a) public and (b) private organisations he has held discussions since 1 January 1995 regarding extension of the Resider 2 programme and proposed funding levels; [21430]
(2) what discussions he has had with the European Commission and other relevant bodies regarding 1997 to 1999 funding for the Resider 2 programme since the management committee meeting of December 1995; and if he will make a statement. [21431]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answers 20 March 1996]s: I have not held any such discussions, but my Department has, at the management committee for community initiatives in December 1995, and more recently in discussions with the European Commission, asked for a larger allocation for Resider, Retex, Rechar and Konver together for 1998 and 1999. I plan to make a statement after the allocations for these and certain other programmes have been settled: not before May.