§ Mr Hurdasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the total receipts of specific interest to Northern Ireland from the following European Economic Community sources for the period 1st January 1973 to 1st January 1975: the Social Fund, the European Investment Bank, the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, and the European Coal and Steel Community.
§ Mr. MoyleWith regard to the European Social Fund and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Down North (Mr. Kilfedder), on 23rd January 1975—[Vol. 884, c. 487–8.]
In November 1974 the European Investment Bank advanced a loan of 19.2 million units of account—approximately £10 million—to the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation Limited to aid smaller and medium-sized companies The money will go primarily to the development areas, including Northern Ireland, but no figures are available to indicate how much will go to the Province. In December 1974 the European Investment Bank announced an advance of 4.8 million units of account—approximately £2.5 million—to Short Brothers and Harland Limited of Belfast to help to finance the development of the SD3–30 aircraft.
The European Coal and Steel Community has not provided any finance, whether by grant or loan, in relation to Northern Ireland.