§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish in theOfficial Report the bids for European regional development fund for 1988–89 and the comparative bids and allocations for 1987–88 British regions.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe table shows European regional development fund commitments to the United Kingdom for the calendar year 1987 and the value of applications submitted during this period.
147W
£ million Commitments Applications North 56 — Yorkshire and Humberside 30 — East Midlands 2 —
Commitments Applications South West 28 — West Midlands 65 — North West 36 — England 217 256 Wales 54 82 Scotland 83 153 Northern Ireland 39 53 Multi-Regional 3 — United Kingdom 396 544 The columns are, however, not directly comparable, since corresponding applications and commitments are not necessarily made in the same calendar (or financial) year. Thus, many 1987 commitments were applied for in 1986, and many of the outstanding 1987 applications can be expected to lead to commitments in 1988.
The total of new applications in 1988 will exceed £400 million. Together with applications outstanding from 1987, they will comfortably suffice for 1988 commitments to a total at least similar to that in 1987. Full or regional estimates cannot however yet be made.