§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) to what extent the EEC Regional Development Fund ensures that the fund's resources go to regions which suffer from serious imbalances;
(2) to what extent the EEC Regional Development Fund supports projects in the regions receiving assistance from the fund that are making a genuine contribution to their development;
(3) what efforts his Department has made to get assistance from the EEC Regional Development Fund for regions dominated by unemployment and inflation problems;
(4) how his Department implements the principle of co-ordination of regional aids from the EEC Regional Development Fund; and what efforts are concentrated on those regions where measures arc most needed.
Mr. Alan WilliamsThe regulation governing the European Regional Development Fund requires that in selecting projects for Fund assistance priority must be given to national priority areas. In the United Kingdom these are Northern Ireland, the special development areas and the development areas. The intermediate areas are also eligible to receive Fund assistance and in 1975 just under 20 per cent. of applications to the Fund were from intermediate areas. All projects contribute to the strengthening of the industrial and employment base of the areas concerned. Member Governments submit annually statements describing their regional problems and the means by which they are being tackled. Applications are related to these statements.