European Regional Development Fund (Hansard, 22 July 1976)

§ Mr. Madden
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for assistance under the European Regional Development Fund have been submitted for projects in Yorkshire and Humberside; how many applications have been submitted by Calder-dale MBC and West Yorkshire County 564W Council; and when decisions on these applications will be announced.

§ Mr. John Silkin
About 300 projects in Yorkshire and Humberside have so far been submitted to the Department for consideration as applications to the Fund. Some of these are repeat applications. Nine projects have been submitted by Calderdale MBC and 10 projects by West Yorkshire County Council.
The Department will inform authorities shortly of which of their current applications have been submitted to Brussels, and decisions on the projects submitted are expected to be made and announced towards the end of the year.

§ Mr. Madden
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many submissions have been sent to his Department by local authorities applying for projects to be supported by the European Regional Development Fund; what are the main criteria on which submissions are considered; and when decisions on applications will be announced.

§ Mr. John Silkin
About 600 projects have so far been submitted to the Department by local authorities for consideration as applications to the Fund. Some of these are repeat applications. The main criteria are that projects must be located in an assisted area, be directly linked to industrial development and form part of a coherent group of infrastructure developments. The fund regulation requires that projects in development and special development areas must be given priority over projects in intermediate areas; in the latter, special supporting reasons must be given. Decisions on many projects have already been given and notified to the authorities concerned.
The Department will inform authorities shortly of which of their current applications have been submitted to Brussels, and decisions on the projects submitted are expected to be made and announced towards the end of the year.