Mr. Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the gap between the richest and poorest regions in the EEC based on wealth per head of population has widened or diminished since 1970.
Mr. Alan WilliamsI have been asked to reply.
Up-to-date internationally comparable statistics are not available, but according to the First Annual Report on the European Regional Development Fund the gap between the richest and poorest regions in the Community has increased since 1970 in terms of gross domestic product per head.