§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of projects grant aided by EEC funds to be commenced in Northern Ireland in 1978; and what is the estimated 756W total amount of these grants and the estimated percentage they represent of the total cost.
§ Mr. ConcannonThe European Commission is being asked to consider the following applications for grant aid for projects commencing in 1978: (a) £7.5 million in respect of six infrastructure projects under the regulations of the European Regional Development Fund—this represents approximately 30 per cent. of the total cost; (b) £15.4 million in respect of 61 projects under the regulations of the European Social Fund—this represents approximately 51 per cent. of the total costs.
£838,000 has already been approved for grant, under the individual grant scheme of the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund, in respect of four private sector projects; this represents 15 per cent. of the total estimated cost.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, of all the grants made by the EEC to Northern Ireland, what percentage of the total went to agriculture, environment, commerce, health, and social services, education, manpower and finance, respectively.
§ Mr. ConcannonThe information requested is as follows:
(a) Commitments under the European Regional Development Fund (for 1975, 1976 and 1977) were allocated as follows:
Department of Commerce 76.6 per cent. Department of Environment 21.5 per cent. Department of Education for Northern Ireland 1.0 per cent. Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland 0.9 per cent. Commitments in respect of public bodies have been allocated to their respective sponsoring Departments.
(b) Grants made under the European Social Fund were allocated as follows:
Department of Manpower Services 82.2 per cent. Department of Health and Social Services 1.27 per cent. Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland 0.77 per cent. Department of Education for Northern Ireland 2.85 per cent. In addition public authorities have received 2.79 per cent and private firms 10.10 per cent of total grants from the European Social Fund.
(c) All grants made under the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund have been allocated to agriculture; the agent for such payments is the Ministry of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food.
757W
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total amount of money received from the EEC since the United Kingdom's entrance for projects in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. ConcannonThe total amounts of money received from the EEC funds up to 31st December 1977 is as follows:
(a) European Regional Development Fund £15.8 million (b) European Social Fund £16.9 million
Number of projects Grant paid to date (£ million) Percentage of total cost (a) 1976— European Regional Development Fund … 2 0.04 25 European Social Fund … 24 2.98 18 European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund … 12 1.10 17 (b) 1977— European Regional Development Fund … 2 0.26 24 European Social Fund … 29 0.12 5 European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund … 18 2.00 23 1. The costs listed for projects grant-aided under the ERDF include expenditure incurred before 1st January 1975, which is thus ineligible for aid. 2. The figures for grant paid under the ERDF exclude grant withheld in respect of retention money. 3. The figures for grant paid under the ESF form part of the allocations for 1976 and 1977 of £7.58 million and £11.87 million respectively; this represents 45.05 per cent. and 45.22 per cent. of the respective total costs.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of projects grant aided by EEC funds commenced in Northern Ireland in 1976 and 1977, respectively, and not yet completed; what was the
Number of protects Grants allocated/ committed (£ million) Percentage of total cost (a) 1976— European Regional Development Fund … 80 6.89 See note European Social Fund … 5 2.05 27.3 European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund … 4 0.70 24.0 (b) 1977— European Regional Development Fund … 39 8.76 See note European Social Fund … 52 4.26 35.8 European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund … 6 0.90 22.0 In accordance with the ERDF Regulations, the commitment cannot exceed 20 per cent. of investment cost in the case of industrial projects and 30 per cent. in the case of infrastructure.