§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will extend the application of EEC regional grant aid to assisted areas to those parts of the United Kingdom scheduled for special investment status by the Development Commission.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe Development Commission's special investment areas (SIAs) are not regarded as aided areas which qualify for assistance from the quota section of the European regional development fund. We have no plans at present to seek to alter this arrangement. Any areas of the United Kingdom could in principle qualify for assistance from the non-quota section (currently 5 per cent.) of the fund if suitable measures were proposed by the European Commission and adopted by the Council of Ministers.