§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure that the east midlands is included in the EC's Retex scheme for financial assistance to areas where the textile industry has been in decline.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 19 November 1991]: The Commission has made a preliminary announcement about this proposed scheme but details have yet to be made available to member states including the criteria for selecting eligible areas and the likely allocation of funds to the United Kingdom. The Government will naturally seek to ensure the maximum effective coverage within the United Kingdom.