§ Baroness Airey of Abingdonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much the United Kingdom has been allocated from the European Regional Development Fund for areas affected by the decline of the steel, shipbuilding and textile industries, and when the funds will be available.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth)The measures adopted by the Council of Ministers in January 1984 provide a total of £89 million ERDF aid towards eligible steel (£19 million) and shipbuilding (£10 million), as well as first time aid (£60 million) for textile areas. The United Kingdom Government are contributing a further £12.5 million. The aid package will continue until 31st March 1989, or until exhausted if earlier.
Assistance is available for the conversion of disused buildings into suitable premises for small firms (up to 200 employees) and environmental improvements, as well as aid to small firms through the provision of consultancy and common services; help on technical innovation and information; additional investment; access to risk capital; and the establishment or extension of counselling services and economic promotion agencies. The United Kingdom Government contribution will relate to the aids to small firms.
The following are the provisional allocations to eligible areas, which were fixed on 1st February 1984 for the duration of the programmes:
888WA
Provisional allocation of second round of ERDF aid and additional UK central Government contributions to steel, shipbuilding and textile areas Area1 Steel areas Shipbuilding areas Textile areas Total Scotland 2Strathclyde 1.8 4.4 — 6.2 Assisted areas in Tayside — — 4.2 4.2 Total Scotland 1.8 4.4 4.2 10.4
Northern Ireland 2Belfast — 1.1 — 1.1 Northern Ireland — — 14.9 14.9 Total Northern Ireland — 1.1 14.9 16.0 Wales 2Clwyd 2.2 — — 2.2 2South Glamorgan 0.8 — — 0.8 West Glamorgan 2(including parts of Port Talbot TTWA located in Mid-Glamorgan) 2.4 — — 2.4 2Gwent 2.5 — — 2.5 Llanelli TTWA 0.8 — — 0.8 Total Wales 8.7 — — 8.7 England 2Cleveland 2.1 0.8 — 2.9 Assisted areas in Durham (including Consett TTWA) 2.0 — — 2.0 2Tyne and Wear — 3.2 — 3.2 Total North East England 4.1 4.0 — 8.1 2Merseyside — 2.0 — 2.0 Workington TTWA 0.6 — — 0.6 Lancashire (eligible areas) — — 8.0 8.0 Greater Manchester (eligible areas) — — 20.2 20.2 Total North West England 0.6 2.0 28.2 30.8 West Yorkshire (eligible areas) — — 20.3 20.3 Assisted areas in Humberside (including parts of Scunthorpe TTWA located in Lincolnshire) 3.4 — — 3.4 Assisted areas in South Yorkshire (including Sheffield TTWA) 2.2 — — 2.2 Total Yorkshire & Humberside 5.6 — 20.3 25.9 2Corby TTWA 1.2 — — 1.2 Total England 11.5 6.1 48.4 66.0 Total UK 22.0 11.6 67.5 101.1 Notes:
1. Areas as denned in EC Regulations.
2. Included in First Round of ERDF aid measures.
Copies of leaflets setting out the full range of services for small firms will be placed in the library.