§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what representations he has made to the EEC Commission on the future percentage of grants for regional development to intermediate areas not having special development area status; and what has been the reaction of the Commission;
(2) what representations he has made to the EEC Commission about the level 369W of allocation of regional aid to the North-West of England as compared with other parts of the United Kingdom; and what has been the reaction of the Commission.
§ Mr. CryerThe Fund Regulation allocates a specific quota of aid to each member State, but there is no subdivision of this among the constituent parts. However, the regulation specifies that priority must be given to projects in national priority areas. For the United Kingdom this means that projects located in the special development and development areas have a higher priority than those in the intermediate areas. I have made no representation for changing this provision.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Industry what changes in the criteria used by the EEC Commission in deciding on grants for regional development he has urged on the EEC Commission; and what has been the reaction of the Commission.