HC Deb 28 July 1976 vol 916 cc271-2W
Mr. Woodall

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he applies when considering those local authority recommended schemes for assistance from the EEC Regional Aid Fund.

Mr. John Silkin

The Fund regulation sets out the basic conditions of eligibility and certain essential criteria for local authority and other infrastructure projects. The principal of these are that projects must be located in an assisted area and be directly linked to industrial development. The regulation also requires that projects in development and special development areas be given priority over projects in intermediate areas. For the latter, special supporting factors need to be shown. One such factor recognised by the Commission is the existence of a specially high local unemployment rate.