HC Deb 17 February 1998 vol 306 cc564-5W
Mr. Ennis

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to extend the use of gross domestic product per capita as a key qualifying criteria for objective 2 of the EU structural funds. [26789]

Mrs. Roche

The Government, in discussions with the Commission and other Member States, have pushed strongly the idea that GDP per capita, measured at either a national or a local level, should be a factor in determining eligibility for the proposed new Objective 2 of the Structural Funds.

Mr. Watts

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will seek to reform the EU structural funds to provide that no member state shall receive more per head of eligible population in the 2000–06 period than in the 1994–99 period. [26757]

Mrs. Roche

The Government believe that all existing Member States should expect cuts in their Structural and Cohesion Fund allocations (when comparing 2006 with 1999) if costs are to be contained in preparation for EU enlargement.

We have suggested that the average per capita Structural Funds allocations of regions retaining eligibility for the same Objective should not increase, particularly if other regions lose eligibility.

Mr. Watts

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to ensure that the United Kingdom share of the European structural funds in the 2000 to 2006 period reflects its current position in terms of per capita GDP. [26756]

Mrs. Roche

The Government, in discussions with the Commission and other Member States, have pushed strongly the idea that GDP per capita, measured at either a national or a local level, should be a factor in determining allocations and eligibility under the proposed new Structural Funds.