§ Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether regional fund money is used to create jobs or consolidate projects in addition to projects planned by the Government before the EEC grant was applied for or granted.
§ Mr. Concannon:I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) on Monday 4th December.—[Vol. 959, c. 549.]
§ Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether EEC regional fund moneys are used to offset borrowing requirements for Northern Ireland projects.
§ Mr. Concannon:Regional fund receipts for industrial projects are retained by Government partially to offset national financial assistance already provided. Receipts in respect of infrastructure are 84W used to reduce the capital debt of authorities responsible for regional development projects.
§ Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the EEC regional funds received by the Province during the past year to the nearest date, and the purpose for which these received amounts were used.
§ Mr. Concannon:£2,858,742 was received from the European regional development fund in the year ended 30th November 1978. Industrial receipts amounted to £1,163,445 and were retained by Government in partial repayment for financial assistance already provided. Infrastructure receipts totalled £1,695,279, of which £766,706 was passed on to the Northern Ireland electricity service and harbour authorities, and £928,591 allocated for the reduction of the capital debt of organisations which have substantial infrastructure responsibilities.