§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the(a) European Commission and (b) UK representative office in Brussels on spending on the Objective 1 programme in 2000 and the criteria for Wales taking up its full entitlement of such funding; and if he will make a statement. [106062]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI visited Brussels last month and met officials from the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union and from the European Commission to discuss a range of issues. However, the negotiations with the European Commission on the content of the Objective 1 plan, including the spending profile, are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if funding for expenditure on Objective 1 in Wales in the financial year 2000–01 is additional to the budget provided for the National Assembly for Wales. [106082]
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§ Mr. Paul MurphyFunding for the European Union grant element of Objective 1 expenditure in Wales will be from within the National Assembly's budget. For the financial year 2000–01 the Assembly estimates Objective 1 expenditure of around £25 million, which I am assured can be met from within the Welsh Block.