§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money allocated to the United Kingdom for specific Objective I projects since 1994, has been(a) returned and (b) renegotiated for later use, because of the failure of agreed projects to materialise in the agreed time. [63154]
§ Mrs. RocheAll structural funds money allocated to the United Kingdom under Objective 1 since 1994 has been to programmes which cover the period 1994–99. No money from these programmes has been returned or renegotiated for later use.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on(a) the definition of the conditions laid down by the European Union in respect of Objective I structural funding, requiring an undertaking by the recipient member state Government to a substantial commitment to substantial spending over the whole period in delivering an agreed programme within the Community Support Framework and (b) the United Kingdom Government's interpretation of that definition. [63156]
§ Mrs. RocheThe European Union structural funds contribute only a proportion of the costs of individual projects. It is for Member States to ensure that matching funding is in place. In the United Kingdom, this responsibility lies with the end beneficiary.
Additionality is also a requirement of the structural funds regulations, and must be verified in respect of the whole territory covered by each Objective within each Member State. This means that UK expenditure on activities eligible for co-financing from the structural funds has to be maintained at least at the same level during the current programming period of 1994–99 as in the previous programming period. The United Kingdom has been able to demonstrate this to the Commission's satisfaction on an annual basis.