HL Deb 01 November 1999 vol 606 cc58-9WA
Lord Mason of Barnsley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether European Union Objective 1 financial status will be awarded to South Yorkshire; if so, when; and what would the likely financial benefits be, particularly for Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Barnsley. [HL4288]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

The Berlin Council on 25 March agreed that four regions in the United Kingdom, including South Yorkshire, will be eligible for Objective 1 status from 2000 to 2006.

South Yorkshire should receive support from the Structural Funds of about £742 million over the life of the programme.

The financial benefits of Objective 1 status to particular areas within South Yorkshire are subject to the details of the region's Single Programming Document. This document is being drawn up by regional partners and will set out the region's funding objectives. The document has to be submitted to the European Commission by the end of October 1999. The Commission will then have up to five months to agree the programme.