§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to make the application of rural funds under EC objective 5(b) available over wider areas of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI have been asked to reply.
Areas eligible for grants under objective 5(b) of the European Community's structural funds are determined 590W by the European Commission under the terms of article 4 of Council regulation (EEC) No. 4253/88. I understand that the Commission has no present intention of designating further areas. The money available for objective 5(b) grants up to the end of 1993 has already largely been allocated to the areas already designated.