HC Deb 20 July 1978 vol 954 cc379-80W
Mr. Wm. Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing for each year, or if more convenient each financial year (a) the sums in the statement for Northern Ireland which were shown as Northern Ireland's share of the United Kingdom contribution to EEC funds, (b) the actual outturn in each year since the United Kingdom joined the EEC, (c) for the same periods the sums received in loans and in grants from EEC funds for projects situated in Northern Ireland and (d) the similar sums received for cross-border projects.

Mr. Concannon,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th July 1978] gave the following answer:

The information is as follows:

(a) and (b): Northern Ireland's share of United Kingdom contribution to EEC Funds:

Financial year Estimate Outflow
£m. £m.
1972–73 (part-year) No charge was made against the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund in respect of United Kingdom contributions.
1973–74
1974–75 7.1 5.5
1975–76 8.0 8.6
1976–77 10.0 12.0
(provisional)
1977–78 24.0 22.5
(provisional)

(c) Sums allocated to Northern Ireland from EEC funds:

Calendar year (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
ERDF ESF FEOGA Total
£m. £m. £m. £m.
1973 * 4.1 1.7 5.8
1974 * 4.3 2.2 6.5
1975 7.5 6.3 3.0 16.8
1976 6.9 8.8 1.7 17.4
1977 8.8 10.8 2.2 21.8
1978 (to date) 3.7 2.1 0.5 6.3
TOTAL 26.9 36.4 11.3 74.6
* Fund not in operation.

In addition EIB loans were obtained in 1974 for Short Bros and Harland Ltd. and in 1977 for the GPO totalling £2.5 million and £18.5 million respectively, and a further loan of £150,000 was made to Arnz Betting Co. Ltd., Londonderry, out of a global loan from the EIB to the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation.

(d) The only money received from the EEC for cross-border projects was a grant of £17,500 representing 50 per cent. of the cost of the Londonderry-Donegal Cross Border Communication Study.

Notes:

1. Annual receipts from EEC funds may differ from sums shown as being allocated at (c) above. as payments are made in arrears of expenditure.

2. The sums shown at (c) above are those directly allocated to Northern Ireland, no estimate can be made of Northern Ireland's share of receipts in respect of United Kingdom schemes, including intervention arrangements.

3. In the above answer:

ERDF is the European Regional Development Fund.

ESF is the European Social Fund.

FEOGA is the European Agriculturary Guarantee and Guidance Fund.

EIB is the European Investment Bank.

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