Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what criteria are used to decide which of the applications for aid from the European Regional Development Fund are submitted to the fund's administrators;
(2) what Government machinery is used to decide which applications for aid from the European Regional Development Fund are submitted to the fund's administrators.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieApplications are submitted through the Department of Industry following inter-departmental consultations. The applications are prepared by the responsible Departments including the Scottish and Welsh Offices and the Northern Ireland Department. In selecting projects to put forward Departments take account of the provisions of the fund regulation, of the views expressed by the Commission and the Community's Regional Policy Committee and the Fund Management Committee, of the investments being undertaken in the assisted areas, of the schemes suggested by local authorities and other public authorities, of the views of other investors, and of the priorities in the Government's regional policy.