HL Deb 31 July 1981 vol 423 cc945-6WA
Lord Brockway

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What amounts allocated by the EEC for regional aid have been diverted to reduce borrowing requirements, and whether the EEC Budget Commissioner has stipulated that projected aid to Northern Ireland must be used for regional purposes.

Lord Cockfield

All receipts from the European Communities' Regional Development Fund (RDF) are used for regional purposes. The same would apply to any further receipts from the RDF for Northern Ireland. RDF receipts enable public expenditure in the United Kingdom to be maintained at higher levels than could otherwise have been afforded for a given public sector borrowing requirement.

The Government are ready to discuss with the Commission any proposals which may be put forward as a result of the Commission's consideration of the economic problems of Northern Ireland.