§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will broaden the definition of regional assisted areas eligible for European Economic Community 409W tourism assistance to include both rural development areas and the textile industry and coal and steel industry restructuring areas.
§ Mr. Trippier[pursuant to his reply, 18 February 1985, c. 363]: Aid for eligible categories of tourism projects (which vary between areas) is available in all areas which receive national regional aid as defined in the regulation governing the application of the European regional development fund. In the United Kingdom this comprises all assisted areas, including the whole of Northern Ireland, certain small areas covered by the operations of the Highlands and Islands Development Board and the Development Board for Rural Wales, and some non-assisted areas in which ERDF non-quota schemes are in operation. As well as many rural development areas, this includes all the important coal, steel, shipbuilding and textile restructuring areas. In addition, special loan facilities are possible in coal and steel restructuring areas under arrangements made by the ECSC. Neither the ERDF regulation nor the ECSC schemes provide for a situation in which only EC tourism assistance can be made available in any area.