HC Deb 13 February 1992 vol 203 cc602-3W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what applications have been made for RECHAR grants in relation to Nottingham; what payments have been made; and when he expects the European Commission to make the outstanding payments.

Mr. Leigh

The United Kingdom made applications for 11 coalfield areas, including Nottingham, in July 1990. The European Commission has yet to approve them, and no RECHAR money has so far been released to the United Kingdom. We hope that the Commission will approve these applications very soon.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to allow local authorities to negotiate and conclude agreements for RECHAR grants without any involvement of central Government; and what information he has on current practice in this regard in each of the other EC countries.

Mr. Leigh

[holding answer 11 February 1992]: No. I understand that such is not the practice in any member state.