§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Industry what will be the effect on the availability of EEC grants to projects in the Alnwick and Berwick districts of his 439W decision to remove their assisted area status.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe Alnwick travel-to-work Area—TTWA—is to remain an assisted area and there will be no change in its eligibility for European Community grants. Projects in the Berwick TTWA—which includes a small part of Alnwick district—will continue to qualify for grants from the quota section of the European regional development fund—ERDF—until August 1982 when, subject to review, this TTWA will cease to be an assisted area. Payments from the ERDF can, however, continue after August 1982 for any projects which were approved for ERDF grants before that date. In the case of the European social fund, projects in the Berwick TTWA will not be eligible for certain types of assistance from the date of downgrading. The use of the non-quota section of the ERDF—which at present accounts for 5 per cent. of the fund—and the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund is not limited to national assisted areas.