§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what level of funding has been devoted towards British industries from the European Community budget since 1979; and which industries have derived most benefit from it.
§ Mr. TrippierSince 1979 the United Kingdom has been allocated £307..5 million for industrial projects from the quota section of the European regional development fund. A further £121 million has been allocated under the non-quota section of the fund to aid small firms in steel, shipbuilding and textile areas, and border areas in Northern Ireland. The fund is designed to correct regional imbalances rather than to aid particular industries, and it would not be possible to determine which sectors of industry have benefited without disproportionate cost. Aid from the European social fund is principally the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment but £7.1 million has been paid from the social fund in respect of grants under the in-plant training scheme introduced under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 on 1 April 1980.