§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons(a) he has decided not to forward the Nottinghamshire county council's bid for funding 508W under the RETEX programme and (b) he has not offered Nottinghamshire country council and explanation of his decision; and how many such bids so far have met the EC's criteria for the programme, indicating which bids.
§ Mr. Sainsbury[holding answer 8 July 1992]: No decisions have yet been taken about any requests for RETEX funding. The RETEX scheme of European Community grants was announced on 4 June 1992. The UK and other member states have until 4 December to present operational programmes to the Commission. The Commission will have six months to consider them. When it has approved them, applications for funding can be considered.
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the President of the Board of Trade which travel-to-work areas in Lancashire are eligible for consideration under the EC RETEX initiative; what representations he has received in respect of Blackburn's eligibility; and by what dates decisions have to be made by Her Majesty's Government, and by the EC Commission.
§ Mr. Sainsbury[holding answer 10 July 1992]: The European Commission has decided that RETEX grants for textile dependent areas will not be available outside areas designated under structural funds objectives 1, 2 and 5(b). The travel to work areas of Accrington and Rossendale, Blackburn, Bolton and Bury, Burnley, Liverpool, Pendle, Rochdale and Wigan and St. Helens, which lie wholly or partly in Lancashire, are so designated.
Representations about Blackburn have been received from a number of local interests.
The United Kingdom and other member states have until 4 December 1992 to present operational programmes to the European Commission. Pursuant to article 14(3) of Council regulation EEC 4253/88, the European Commission wil have six months from the receipt of the programmes to decide on the assistance.