HC Deb 05 March 1985 vol 74 cc443-5W
Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all areas whose eligibility for regional aid from the European Economic Community has changed as a result of his review of regional aid policy.

Mr. Trippier

The new assisted areas map announced on 28 November 1984 is based on the Department of Employment's revised travel-to-work areas introduced in September 1984. The old travel-to-work areas — on which the previous assisted areas map was based—and new travel-to-work areas do not necessarily correspond exactly. It is therefore not possible to define precisely which areas are no longer assisted by reference to the previous assisted areas map.

However, on a "closest approximation" basis the following new travel-to-work areas which were previously assisted under the old map no longer have assisted area status and have therefore ceased to qualify for that aid from the European Community which is dependent upon such status.

England (North-West)

  • Blackpool
  • Lancaster and Morecambe
  • Northwich
  • Whitehaven

England (North-East)

  • Alnwick and Amble

England (Yorks and Humberside)

  • Bridlington and Driffield*
  • Goole and Selby†
  • Richmondshire
  • Scarborough and Filey‡

England (East Midlands)

  • Louth and Mablethorpe≑
  • Skegness

England (South-West)

  • Barnstaple and Ilfracombe
  • Bideford
  • Dartmouth and Kingsbridge
  • Launceston
  • Newton Abbott
  • St. Austell
  • South Molton
  • Torbay
  • Torrington
  • Totnes
  • Truro

Scotland

  • Inverness
  • Islay/Mid Argyll
  • Oban
  • Orkney Islands
  • Shetland Islands
    • 444
  • Stirling
  • Thurso

Wales

  • Conwy and Colwyn
  • Denbigh
  • Monmouth

Notes:

* Bridlington was previously an intermediate area, Driffield was non-assisted.

† Goole was previously an intermediate area, Selby was non-assisted.

‡ Scarborough was previously an intermediate area, Filey was non-assisted.

≑ Louth was previously non-assisted, Mablethorpe was in intermediate area.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated annual cost per person in the working population living in the designated areas of providing regional assistance at current levels.

Mr. Trippier

[pursuant to his reply, 4 March 1985, c. 356]: The estimated cost of regional development grants and regional selective financial assistance in 1984–85 per head of working population in the assisted areas of Great Britain is £74.78. This estimate is based on the working population of areas designated as assisted prior to the announcement on 28 November 1984 since most expenditure for 1984–85 will be incurred in these areas. Estimates are not readily available on a comparable basis for other types of regional assistance administered by various territorial agencies.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he knows the proportion of the population of each member country of the European Community who live in designated areas; and if any of them exceeds the 35 per cent. maximum figure permitted.

Mr. Trippier

[pursuant to his reply, 4 March 1985, c. 356]: I am not aware of any reliable and comparable published data of this type; such information would in any case be misleading, because of wide differences of definition between member states, and because geographical coverage cannot be considered in isolation from other factors such as grant levels and overall expenditure.

The total working population of that part of the United Kingdom in which EC-approved "regional" aids have effect—which includes not only aids given in assisted areas in Great Britain, but also in Northern Ireland, certain inner urban areas and areas administered by the Highlands and Islands Development Board and the Development Board for Rural Wales — amounts to 44.7 per cent. There is no maximum figure such as that referred to by the hon. Member.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the exact percentage of the working population living in areas that are designated as assisted areas.

Mr. Trippier

[pursuant to the reply, Monday 4 March 1985, c. 356: The new assisted areas map announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry, on 28 November 1984 is estimated to cover 35 per cent. of the working population of Great Britian.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has made any representations to the European Community asking for some flexibility with the 35 per cent. figure which is the announced European limit to the proportion of the population that can live in designated areas.

Mr. Norman Lamont

[pursuant to his reply, 4 March 1985, c. 356]: There is no maximum figure of 35 per cent. for the EC as a whole: the European Commission discusses each member state's proposals for designated areas individually, taking into account many different factors, such as grant levels and overall expenditure. I am not aware of any reliable and comparable published data in respect of other member states: such information would in any case be of limited value because of wide differences of definition between member states, and because geographical coverage cannot be considered in isolation from other factors.