HC Deb 18 January 1980 vol 976 cc867-8W
Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the amount of aid granted from the European development fund, what percentage of this fund was raid to British contractors against the £414 million committed to the fund by Great Britain under the fourth EDF by the middle of 1979; what percentage was paid to other member States; and what amount remains to be allocated by April.

Mr. Neil Marten

The amount of aid to be provided under the fourth European development fund is some £2,050 million, of which the United Kingdom will provide some £380 million—the exact amounts depend on the exchange rate when payments are made.

As of 30 June 1979, contracts had been awarded to United Kingdom and other member States' firms in the following percentages:

Per cent.
France 34.52
Germany 19.55
Italy 19.12
Belgium 10.36
United Kingdom 9.23
Netherlands 4.96
Denmark 1.05
Luxembourg 0.65
Ireland 0.56

As of 30 November 1979, some £1,007 million of the fund had been committed to projects, although only £282 million of that had been awarded in contracts by 30 June 1979. Some £227 million remains to be committed to projects; the balance of the fund is for non-project purposes.