§ Mr. AshtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reasons underlie the policy of referring applications to his Department for regional aid or assistance to the Minister of Agriculture. [104173]
§ Ms HewittThe Department asks the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for advice on all Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) applications with an agriculture element to ensure that there are no EC restrictions on projects being eligible for assistance in this respect. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for decisions taken on awards of RSA.