§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make an application to the EEC for cash aid for the restructuring of the shipyard of Harland and Wolff, Belfast.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerThe European Commission has no fund to which application could be made for aid towards restructuring Harland and Wolff Limited. As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry announced on 27 July 1982 that the Commission has recently approved assistance from the non-quota section of the European regional development fund which, while not payable to the company, will help alleviate the effects on the Belfast urban area of the decline which has taken place in shipbuilding activity at Harland and Wolff, principally by stimulating the creation of new employment opportunities in small and medium sized enterprises.—[Vol. 28, c.435.]