HC Deb 22 July 1977 vol 935 cc747-50W
Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the schemes from Lancashire local authorities submitted by his Department in 1975, 1976 and 1977 for aid from the European Regional Development Fund which were rejected by the Commission, and the reasons for that rejection;

(2) if he will list the schemes which Greater Manchester local authorities submitted to his Department for aid from the European Regional Development Fund in 1975, 1976 and 1977 which his department refused to submit to the EEC and the reasons for that refusal;

(3) if he will list the schemes which received financial assistance from the European Regional Development Fund in Lancashire in 1975, 1976 and 1977; what was the total cost of each scheme; and what percentage the fund's contribution represented of each scheme;

(4) if he will list the schemes from Greater Manchester local authorities submitted by his Department in 1975, 1976 and 1977 to the EEC for aid from the European Regional Development Fund which were rejected by the Commission and the reasons for the rejection;

(5) if he will list the schemes which Greater Manchester local authorities submitted to his Department for aid from the European Regional Development Fund in 1975, 1976 and 1977 which his Department refused to submit to the EEC and the reasons for that refusal;

(6) if he will list the schemes which received financial assistance from the European Regional Development Fund in the Greater Manchester County in 1975, 1976 and 1977; what was the total cost of each scheme; and what percentage the Fund contribution represents of each scheme;

(7) if he will list the schemes from Merseyside local authorities submitted by his Department in 1975, 1976 and 1977 to the EEC for aid from the European Regional Development Fund which were rejected by the Commission; and what were the reasons for the rejection;

(8) if he will list the schemes Merseyside local authorities submitted to his Department for aid from the European Regional Development Fund in 1975, 1976 and 1977 which his Department refused to submit to the EEC and the reasons for the refusal;

(9) if he will list the schemes which received financial assistance from the European Regional Development Fund in Merseyside County in 1975, 1976 and 1977; what was the total cost of each scheme; and what percentage the fund contribution represented of each scheme;

(10) if he will list the schemes from Cheshire local authorities submitted by his Department in 1975, 1976 and 1977 to the EEC for aid from the European Regional Development Fund which were rejected by the Commission and the reasons for the rejection;

(11) if he will list the schemes which Cheshire local authorities submitted to his Department for aid from the European Regional Development Fund in 1975, 1976 and 1977 which his Department refused to submit to the EEC and the reasons for that refusal;

(12) if he will list the schemes which received financial assistance from the European Regional Development Fund in Cheshire in 1975, 1976 and 1977; what was the total cost of each scheme; and what percentage the fund contribution represented of each scheme;

(13) if he will list the schemes submitted by local authorities in the Northern Region of England in 1975, 1976 and 1977 which his Department submitted to the EEC for assistance from the European Regional Development Fund, and which the Commission rejected; and what reasons were given for that rejection;

(14) if he will list the schemes submitted to him by local authorities in the Northern Region of England for aid from the European Regional Development Fund in 1975, 1976 and 1977 which his Department refused to submit to the EEC; and what were the reasons for that refusal;

(15) if he will list all schemes submitted to him by English local authorities, other than those in the Northern and North-Western Regions, for aid from the European Regional Development Fund in 1975, 1976 and 1977 which his Department refused to submit to the EEC; and what were the reasons for that refusal;

(16) if he will list all the schemes submitted by English local authorities other than those in the Northern and North-Western Regions in 1975, 1976 and 1977 which his Department submitted to the EEC for assistance from the European Regional Development Fund, and which the Commission rejected; and what reasons were given for the rejection.

Mr. Guy Barnett

I will write to my hon. Friend giving the information requested.

Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he uses when (a) agreeing to submit schemes and (b) refusing to submit schemes to the EEC for assistance from the European Regional Development Fund.

Mr. Guy Barnett

In considering whether or not to submit applications for aid from the European Regional Development Fund for infrastructure projects, regard has been paid to the provisions of the regulation establishing the Fund, particularly the requirement of an industrial link and the priority for development areas; to the relative severity of the economic and employment problems of the area concerned; to the contribution which individual projects would make to relieving them; and to the total amount of grant likely to be available.