§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Industry what proportion of the EEC Regional Development Fund is being allocated to the North-West; and how this compares with the proportion of national unemployed currently out of work in the region.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieThe European Regional Development Fund specifies the share of the fund available for each member State. There is, therefore, a United Kingdom share but no subdivision within it. To date, the Commission has agreed to contribute £38.9 million from the fund towards the cost of626W projects in the United Kingdom. £3.3 millions—8.5 per cent.—relates to projects in the North-West Region. In January 1976, 14.6 per cent. of those unemployed in the United Kingdom were in the North-West.