§ Mr. Kirk woodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether consideration has been given to designating the Borders region as eligible for rural development status under heading 5B of the proposed reform of the European Community structural funds;
(2) what representations he has made to the European Community to establish the Borders region as being eligible to qualify for rural development status under heading 5B of the proposed reform of the European Community structural funds.
§ Mr. LangThe European Commission has only just agreed its proposals for the detailed eligibility criteria under which rural areas would qualify for objective 5B. We shall need to study these proposals closely. It is therefore too early to say whether Borders region will qualify. The implications of any regional fund assistance for non-assisted rural areas such as Borders, which might divert money away from assisted areas, would need careful consideration.