§ Mrs. PeacockTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department will seek the extension of the European regional development fund non-quota textile aid scheme beyond its scheduled expiry date of March 1989; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsUnder the existing ERDF regulation, the European Commission would propose programmes of aid where problems stemmed from Community policies to reduce excess capacity. Substantial sums have been spent in the European Community under the non-quota scheme and the Commission has no plans to extend this. I do not consider it appropriate to press the Commission to do so.