§ Lord O'Haganasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will explain the circumstances in which parts of Devon and Cornwall lost their eligibility for grants from the European Regional Development Fund.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth)Aid from the European Regional Development Fund is normally available only in respect of areas which are in receipt of regional industrial aid from the member state concerned. The Government reviewed the map of assisted areas in Great Britain in 1984 taking into account a number of criteria, in particular relative unemployment levels. As a result certain parts of Devon and Cornwall lost assisted area status, and as a direct consequence lost eligibility for aid from the ERDF.