§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when the programme monitoring committee of the highlands and islands national programme of community interest last met; and what projects were approved for funding;
(2) what progress has been made by his Department and the European Commission in setting up the highlands and islands operational programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Allan Stewart[holding answer 23 June 1992]: The programme monitoring committee of the highlands and islands national programme of community interest most recently met on Shetland on Thursday 4 June 1992. No new project proposals were approved as the available funds had already been fully accounted for by projects approved in principle by the committee at earlier meetings.
Once the European Commission has approved the new operational programme, which is expected to be worth some £8 million over two years, the programme monitoring committee will consider further applications for project funding. The available funds are expected to be significantly over subscribed.